If firefighters attacking the Loma fire west of Morgan Hill can avoid any major flare-ups during forecasted high winds in the hills today, they expect to have the blaze fully contained after the weekend, according to authorities.
“The biggest challenge today is the wind warning,” CalFire Fire Prevention Specialist Pam Temmermand said Sept. 30. “If we can through that and not have any new fires pick up, we should be OK.”
Throughout the day and evening Friday, winds are expected to pick up from the northwest in Morgan Hill at a pace of about 15 to 20 mph, according to National Weather Service Forecaster Steve Anderson. Gusts could reach 25 mph.
The air will continue to be “breezy” Saturday, but the winds will die down from Friday’s forecast, Anderson added. Temperatures will remain cool throughout the weekend, with highs in the low- to mid-70s Friday and Saturday, and dropping to the 60s by Sunday night.
Also on Sept. 30, CalFire officials reported more acreage burned and structures destroyed since the previous morning. A total of 4,313 acres have burned as of 7 a.m. Sept. 30. Eight homes and nine unspecified “outbuildings” in the way of the wildfire have been destroyed. The fire was 34 percent contained Sept. 30.
The latest fire map released by CalFire Sept. 30 shows the blaze is spreading in the northeast direction, down the north side of Casa Loma Road and the south side of Loma Prieta Road. Temmermand added that some of that blaze is likely from firefighters “back burning” to clear away any vegetation that could otherwise fuel the larger fire.
The Loma fire started about 3 p.m. Sept. 26 in the areas of Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads in the Santa Cruz mountains. Three hundred twenty-five structures are threatened, and the growing fire has prompted evacuation orders and warnings for neighborhoods in the steep, remote hills.
The Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, 16970 DeWitt Ave., is serving as a Red Cross evacuation center for displaced residents.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Numerous fire, police and public safety agencies have participated in the firefighting effort. As of Sept. 30, a total of 179 fire engines, 34 water tenders, 16 helicopters, six air tankers, 61 hand crews, 32 dozers and 1,968 personnel were on the scene, according to a release from CalFire.
“Overnight (Sept. 29-30), the fire remained active while firefighters continued to build and reinforce containment lines around the fire perimeter,” reads the release. “Accessibility to the fire is hampered by narrow and congested roads. Today’s weather is predicting north to northwest winds increasing this afternoon as a cold front moves through central California. The fire is burning in steep inaccessible terrain covered in dry drought stressed fuels, burning in the Mt. Loma Prieta, Mt. Chual and Uvas Creek drainages.”
Blaze affects air quality
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department reported Sept. 29 has improved to “moderate” since earlier this week. However, the air quality is still in decline since before the Loma fire started.
Health officials are advising residents to continue to pay close attention to the air quality over the coming days as the Loma fire continues to burn.
“When you see or smell smoke in the air, you may want to hold off on strenuous physical activities until the air clears,” said Dr. Sara Cody, Health Officer and Director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. “With moderate air quality, people who are sensitive to air pollutants should think about limiting long periods of time outdoors, and limiting any demanding physical activity.”
CalFire: No donations for base camp
Dozens of residents and local businesses have shown a desire to bring food and water to the firefighters, but CalFire said those efforts are better focused on the Red Cross which is helping those who have lost their homes or cannot yet return home due to evacuation orders. CalFire officials are asking residents not to bring donations to the Loma fire base camp at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy.
“While greatly appreciated, the camp is well-supplied and self-sufficient,” reads a CalFire release.
Instead, monetary donations can be made to the Red Cross by visiting redcross.org.
Donations of food or goods can be delivered to area Salvation Army facilities, including the store in Gilroy located at 6701 Camino Arroyo. The facility is accepting clothing, household goods and toys.
More information about the Loma fire can be obtained by calling (408) 779-0930, or by visiting fire.ca.gov.
