Posted on 06/12/2008 4:28:13 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
Firefighters cleared space around houses and nervously hoped the weather would hold out as they struggled today to contain a 700-acre wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains that has chased 1,500 people from their homes.
The Martin Fire has destroyed several structures since it broke out Wednesday afternoon near the community of Bonny Doon, about 12 miles north of Santa Cruz, and is threatening 1,000 to 1,200 homes. Fire officials said they did not know exactly how many houses had already burned.
"We have a lot of homes in the area that have been impacted either directly or indirectly," said Steve Woodill, a division chief with the state Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention. "We know that there have been structural losses. We can't tell you how many."
Santa Cruz County officials said late Wednesday that at least five buildings had burned. No containment lines have been established around the blaze.
The Martin Fire is the second major blaze in the county in less than a month, but so far officials are optimistic it will not be as disastrous as the Summit Fire, which destroyed 35 residences and 64 outbuildings and burned 4,270 acres from May 22 to May 30.
There are currently three major fires burning in Northern California:
Martin Fire
County: Santa Cruz County
Location: Bonny Doon and Martin Road, near Hwy 9
Humboldt Fire
County: Butte County
Location: Hwy 32 & Humboldt Rd on Stillson Canyon
Indians Fire
County: Monterey County
Location: 21 miles west of King City in Ventana
Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
OMG. The Oakland Hills again??
Bonny Doon is ever scarier.
I’m not liking this fire season.
yes, when the Diablo Winds blow....the Oakland Hills go!
well, at least it seems that way.....gonna be a bad year I am afraid.
Has the Bonny Doone winery been hurt?
Like many residents, Sohl suspects that the fire may have originated with partying trespassers on the overgrown Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve, which he said should have had brush thinned to reduce fire hazard.
“This environmental crap has got to stop,” Sohl said. “People are losing their homes and property all over a damn bush. I’m so fed up with it. Maybe now something will be done with it.”
GLOBULL WARMING! They haver NEVER had droughts or wildfires in CA before! /dripping sarc
Thanks. I had wondered if the fire had gotten there or not.
Not sure if the Chico fire is breaking out....but there are 150 engines from So Cal heading to No Cal tonight (30 strike teams)....this CHP CAD entry seems to indicate more evacuations of the Chico area.
Incident: 1107 Type: Fire Location: SKYWAY RD AT NEAL RD ThomasBrothers: 5932 3J info as of: 6/12/2008 8:03:16 PM
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
8:00PM 104-2 ENRT TO 1148 CHILDREN TO PDSE TOWNHALL
7:57PM HAVE PARENTS MEET AT TOWN HALL WITH 104-2
7:52PM THE CHILDREN IN R1 S UNIT / PARENTS ARE AT HOME;1562 BOYDEN LN X BILLIE, 876-0424 / NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO 1198 CHP
7:48PM LAKEHILLS AT DP FIRE PRGRESSING
7:42PM PER 80 POSSIBILITY FIRE WILL AK E TO PENTZ
7:30PM 1039 BCSO
7:15PM REMOVED LN 186 FROM MEDIA PAGE DUE TO LN 216
7:13PM PENTZ SB IS BLOCKED FOR SEV MILES
7:01PM EVAC 1562 BOYDEN LN 8760424 2 CHILDREN
6:57PM TRAFFIC IS AT A STAND STILL ON PENTZ, BCSO WANTS TO ROUTE TRAFFIC FROM PENTZ DOWN DP / PLEASE ADV 104-S2
6:55PM ALMSOT TO CELAR CREEK CEMETARY RD///FOOTHILLS MH PARK JSUT BEYOND
6:55PM HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH VIRE ALMSOT TO CEMETARY RD
6:54PM ** PLEASE RE-BROADCAST *** PER PPD ** ALLOW TRAFFIC SB PENTZ , THEY HAVE REPORTS SOME AGENCY IS TURNING SB TRAFFIC BACK NB ??
6:54PM DP PENJTZ AT CLARK NO MROE EB TRAFFIC
6:52PM PER S2 DP ANT PENTZ IS CLOSED
6:52PM 2 EMG VEHS DENIED ACCESS
6:49PM SB SR99 OFR AT DP IS ALREADY CLOSED // PER JEFF AT CAL T / CAL T HAS IT MANNED BY THEM & 2 DA S ASSISTING
6:43PM 1039 BCSO
6:40PM PER 104-D4 / PLS HAVE DOT CLOSE DURHAM PENTZ AT SR99 TO ALL EB TRFC
6:32PM STEAMBOAT AT CLARK FIRE ON CLARK SPOTTING 1/4 MILE AHEAD OF MAIN FLANK
6:29PM PENTZ CLOSED COMING DOWN??
6:26PM DEAN RDWY WAY NORTH OF EVAC ZONE
6:25PM SEV PEOPLE RUNNING UP THE RDWY
6:16PM 1562 BOYDON PLZ CHECK WITH PARADISE IF CHILDREN WERE EVACUATED FROM THIS ADDY
6:15PM DRINKS AT LUNCHES AT PARADISE TOWN HALL
6:11PM XRAY AHS MIGRANE FIRE ONS CENE
6:10PM SUBJ REFUSING TO LEAVE, VIA 1021 / ADVISED CHP DISP HE WAS NOT LEAVING / THEN HUNG UP ON DISP & DID NOT ANSWER ON CALL BACK
6:06PM &&** ADVISE 104-80& 35-D1 BOB POPE IS AT ;; 3850 CLEMMENTS / NEIGHBOR REQ SUBJ BE EVACUATED
6:03PM *** 35-S2 WANTS SR70 CLOSED AT SR149 ***
5:49PM 104-R3, SEVERAL VEHICLES MEDI VAC TRANSPORT / ADVISED TO GO UP PENTZ
5:45PM DRIVER IS WADE HAVE UNITS LET VEH THRU CLOSURE AT PENTZ
5:44PM S2, SR 191 AT SR70 / CAL T IS WORKING ON A SIGN ADVISING ALL ROADS TO PARADISE ARE CLOSED / PER 35-S1 AT 70 & 149
5:42PM R1, ON NEAL THE FIRE IS UP TO CHAPPAREL
5:41PM 1039 BCSO LINE 153
5:38PM BCSO HAS CLOSURE AT DP & PENTZ
5:38PM 35-S2, 97 70 AT PENTZ / ON CLOSURE
5:37PM 104-80 & 104-D1 / EVACUATING BLEOW CIRCLE J / FIRE 97
5:35PM ADV R3, NEG NB TRAFFIC UP PENTZ / ONLY OPEN TO EMERG TRAFFIC / 35-S2 ALMOST 97
5:28PM ^**SIG ALERT**BUTTE COUNTY AREA, NO INBOUND ROADS OPEN INTO PARADISE DUE TO HUMBOLDT FIRE EVACUATIONS, AVOID THE AREA
5:25PM 35-D1, A FEW RESIDENTS ARE REFUSING TO LEAVE;; MAY NEED TO FORCIBLY TAKE THEM OUT ;; CLEMMENTS RIDGE ROAD JNO 3788 ADDRESS / 2ND ON ON CIRCLE J / 104-80 WILL CONTINUE TO ASSIST
5:24PM ALL PEOPLE THAT NO INBOUND RDS OPEN INTO PARADISE
5:23PM PER 104-C / CLOSE CLARK / CAN T GET AHOLD OF 104-S2
5:23PM D1, 3788 CLEMMENTS RIDGE OFF CIRCLE J RANCH, FIRE RUNNING UP ON THE RESIDENCES / D1 & RESIDENCES EVACUATED / ADV FIRE
5:22PM 1039 BCF RE SITUATION CIRCLE J AT CLARK
5:18PM CLOSE SB CLARK OO PDSE,DUE TO HEAVY SMOKE / PER 104-80 / PLEASE ADV ECO
5:15PM 35-10 97, 4750 MARIAH CT,HOUSE EMPTY/JUVIE SAFE IN CHICO,35-10 WILL ADVISE HER FATHER AT THE CLOSURE
5:05PM COPZ PENTZ RD
5:04PM ALL UNTIS TO BLUE THAT ARE ON THE FIRE
5:03PM 35-S2 PENTZ OO TOWN IS CLEAR, GOOD EVACUATION ROUTE
5:02PM 35-D1 4750 MARIAH CT, TO GET A 14 YOA ALONE / SMOKEY / MOTEHR 1023 CLARK & DP
5:02PM CLARK IS GETTING VERY SMOKEY
5:00PM CT ALSO SHUTTING DOWN SB PENTZ OFR AT SR99
5:00PM JEFF AT CT: REQ UNIT AT SR191/SR70, TO TURN PEOPLE BACK DOWN TOWARD OROVILLE
4:59PM 80, ADV CAL T TO PUT CLOSED SIGNS; NB CLARK AT CLEAR CREEK CEMETERY ROAD
4:59PM LINE 112, PER BCSO THIS ISN T FAR FROM SCOTT RD, NOT AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY SHOULD PREPARE
4:57PM 1039 BUTTE CO SO FOR LINE 111
4:52PM 80, ON CLARK RESIDECES CAN GET TO ;;STAMBOAT ROCK ROAD / TOO SMOKEY ANRY FURTHER NORTH
4:49PM 4374 ROUND VALLEY RANCH RD/1039 BCF / 2 OTHER LARGE HOMES BACK THERE, FIRE CRESTED WHILE I WAS TALKING TO THEM / EVERYBODY IS OUT OF THESE RESIDENCES / FIRE COPY
4:47PM 70, NEG FIRE PERSONNEL ON SCENE / BTW AIRPORT & THE RECYCLE CENTER / 1039 BCF
4:46PM 70, HEAD OF FIRE AT THE END OF ROUND VALLEY RANCH ROAD / FIRE IS CONSUMING THE HOUSE, THE OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED
4:45PM 1039 INFO TO PPD - PPD ADVG IF POSS
4:44PM 80 TO CHECK CLARK ROAD TO SEE HOW FAR RESIDENTS CAN GET UP TO
4:40PM PER PPD *** NO TRAFFIC TO COME UP PENTZ *** NO TRAFFIC TO COME INTO PARADISE
4:37PM 80, NB PENTZ BLOCKED BY BCSO DEPUTY / IS PENTZ CLOSED ?? PER 104-S2 WILL CHECK
4:32PM 104-S2, RPT CLOSURE AT CLARK & DP & SENDING THEM BACK UP THE HILL // NEG JUST LETTING RESIDENCES & RETUNR
4:20PM 104-R4; TRAFFIC IS SB CLARK AT PEARSON
4:18PM 1039 CT LN 79, LN 85
4:11PM BUT NEED TO MAINTAIN NB CLOSURE DP AT CLARK
4:11PM 1039 BCSO LINE 65, THEY WILL SEND SOMEONE
4:07PM 1039 104-C WILL BE EXTENDED TO BUTTE COLLEGE
4:03PM CAL T 71-10 // 191 CLOSED AT DP // NEED A UNIT TO ASSIST
4:02PM ** ECO ** PARASISE TOWN HALL ** SKYWAY JSO PEARSON
4:02PM 70 ADV S2 AT CP, PUBLIC WORKS IS SENDING CITIZENS SB CLARK & NEED TO STOP THAT TRAFFIC & SEN THE DOWN PENTZ
4:01PM 1039 CHICO PD
4:01PM PER 104-S2 OPEN STILSON CYN AT HUMBOLDT
3:58PM CHICO PD NEEDS KNOW IF STILSON CYN AND HUMBOLDT STILL NEEDS TO BE CLOSED
3:55PM PER 104-S2 WE CLOSED CLARK PER IC DOWN AT COMMAND CENTER
3:49PM BUTTE CO SO TO HANDLE ALL PARADISE RADIO TRAFFIC THRU CLA MARS
3:48PM PER BUTTE CO SO THEY WILL BE HANDLING PARADISE TRAFFIC ON CAL MARS
3:41PM 1039 CHICO PD
3:40PM S2, GOT THRU ON SKYWAY / BUT NOT A GOOD IDEA / DUE TO FIRE & EQUIP
3:35PM CAL TRANS ENRT TO DURHAM PENTZ AT SR191 ETA 15 MIN
3:30PM LEFT MSG FOR JEFF WITH CALL TRANS TO CLOSE CLARK AT DP
3:30PM 1039 PPD TO CLOSE CLARK AT PEARSON
3:29PM HAVE PPD CLOSE CLARK ROAD ON THE PARADISE
3:29PM HAVE CAL T CLOSE; CLARK RD AT DP
3:18PM 1039 PPD
3:17PM R1, SENIOR CITIZENS;; NEED RESCUED FROM ::972 BELLAVISTA, 998 BELLAVIESA IN APTS A & D
3:13PM 1039 OROPD REF LOOKIE LOUS
3:12PM 35-S2, ROLLING 30 & 10 AFTERNOONS TO ASSIST
3:08PM 70, FOSTER AT PINTAIL CT, NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN, & THE ROAD WRAPS AROUND THE FIRE / SEVERAL LOOKIE LOOS, THEY MAY GET TRAPPED IN THE FIRE
3:07PM 1039 PPD, COPZ 2 ORO CHP UNITS WILL RESP ALSO
3:04PM 1039 PPD
3:02PM 1039 ZAUGG
2:43PM PER PPD EVAC FROM SKYWAY AT THE Y LOWER NEAL FROM SKYWAY AROUND TO FOSTER RD
RESPONDING OFFICERS STATUS
5:26PM CHP Unit On Scene
5:32PM CHP Unit Enroute
5:46PM CHP Unit On Scene
5:47PM CHP Unit On Scene
7:20PM CHP Unit Assigned
7:32PM CHP Unit Enroute
7:45PM CHP Unit On Scene
7:47PM CHP Unit On Scene
7:48PM CHP Unit On Scene
8:01PM CHP Unit Enroute
PARADISE — The Humboldt Fire doubled in size today, burning into Paradise and down onto the Butte College campus.
An estimated 20 to 40 houses were destroyed as the fire grew to 19,000 acres by 8:15 p.m.
All the roads into Paradise were closed just before 5 p.m. Pentz Road was open for outgoing traffic from the town only, to accomodate the thousands of people ordered from their homes.
The fire in Paradise is getting dicey. Could trap a whole community by cutting off the three exit routes. Skyway, Clark and Pentz Roads. My wife’s Mom is packing up to evacuate. She is in a mobile home retirement community way up Pentz Rd (@ Wagstaff). But heading South on Pentz to 70 is the only way out now ( if I understand the road closure alerts correctly). The fire is burning from the South heading North across the exit routes. We are waiting to hear if there is a full scale evacuation called for.
yikes.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080612-2056-ca-californiafires.html
Authorities closed all roads to Paradise, a town of about 30,000 residents about 90 miles north of Sacramento, and ordered thousands of Butte County residents to evacuate.
The wind-whipped blaze, which started around noon Wednesday, had grown to 19,000 acres, threatened more than 1,600 structures and destroyed several homes, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It was only 10 percent contained Thursday evening.
The so-called Humboldt Fire had spread to the hills of the Butte College campus, where fire officials had set up their incident command center, said CDF spokesman Joshpae White.
(man.)
9:32PM AND ORO UNITS THAT ARE ASSINGED TO FIRE 9:17PM BUCO ADVSD DPTY JUST MOVED ALONG APPROX 20 VEHS ON SR149 = THAT HAD PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT FIRE 8:30PM GETTING RPTS OF FIRE AT DOE MILL PER 104-C 8:22PM PER 80 NEG ON TRAFF MISSILLA VALLEY TO DP TO CLARK ---DP IS CLOSED WILL AHVE TO USE DP TO DIFF ROUTE 8:14PM ALL RESIDENCE ON LAKE HILLS DRIVE OFF DP HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT FIRE IS APR THEIR DIR 8:13PM CONFIRM WITH CT--DP AT SR99 IS CLOSED AND NO TRAFF IS BEING ALLOWED EB ON DURHAM PENTZ WHATSO EVER 8:11PM PER 60 STARTING A BACK FIRE AT BUTTE COLLEGE/DP HAS EMG TRAFF 8:10PM R3 WILL TURN TRAFFIC SB TOWARDS 70 DENY WB ACCESS 8:09PM PER 104-C FIRE IS APPROX 500 FT FRM CP AT BUTTE COLLEGE
I now hear they requested 500 engines statewide.....that is a heck of a lot of equipment....I think they are having a very bad night.
Found a site of a Paradise weather buff. The fire weather warning indicates that they expect winds to develop and increase overnight tonight.
http://rturner.info/advisory_warning.htm
Also features this weather forecast:
Overnight![Patchy Smoke](http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/images/fu.jpg "Patchy Smoke\") Patchy Smoke Lo 65°F |
Brush fire in Newhall? The cad doesn’t seem to have details
I dont hear anything....Blue 12 would be the place to tune....
The notation’s gone, so I guess it was nothing. There’s zero on the wind gauge out here in the desert tonight. It feels eerily stagnant.
its cold here...well 60s....seems cold for june
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/15/BASN119HAU.DTL&tsp=1
The townsfolk of this bucolic burg in the Sierra foothills were left with some charred ruins Saturday after being hit with the same kind of wildfire that has singed towns across Northern California.
They were also left with questions about the very nature of the young community they had built.
Furious winds and unusually dry conditions had fueled a fire that raced up ridgelines and surrounded the southern end of Paradise, giving this town just east of Chico its greatest threat in modern times.
The flames engulfed two of the three escape routes out of Paradise - and the third was threatened as well. Firefighters ordered the evacuation of more than a third of the 26,000 residents, including a large number of retirees.
With only one two-lane route out of town, it took more than two hours for residents to drive 10 miles. Some panicked. The one fatality involved an elderly woman who tried to flee even though her neighborhood wasn’t being evacuated. She died of a heart attack.
“The greatest fear is fire on the ridge,” said Shauna Robbins, 37, who grew up in Paradise. “There’s no way out. You’re trapped. If the fires jump, you’re in a mess.”
The Humboldt Fire destroyed at least 74 homes. The town was lucky, given that the 25 mph winds reversed course and died down.
it says there was a fire in Sand Cyn? Which is off the 58 before the cement plant in Monolith.
That must have been it. If Sand Cyn is north of Tehachapi it would be the right area.
Homes burning in Watsonville, starts in Santa Cruz and Pebble Beach.
cbs5 has a live feed...
A fast-moving, 500-acre wildfire forced 2,100 mandatory evacuations and closed a six-mile stretch of scenic Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County on Friday afternoon, destroying several homes and threatening others.
Since I took this and came inside to upload, the plume is larger already.
website photo from the other side:
Current Situation: State, local and federal firefighters continue to battle hundreds of wildfires throughout California. Fires are actively burning and continue to spread. Firefighters are prepared for the potential of new fires due to Red Flag Warnings issued for dry thunderstorm activity in the Northern Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Mountain Ranges in northeastern California through 11 p.m. tonight. The priority of firefighting is for the protection of life, property and natural resources.
Download the latest fact sheet.
Fire Statistics
Total Fires: 1,420
Total Acres Burned: 356,134
Resources Committed
Personnel Committed: 18,608
Fire Engines: 1,377
Hand Crews: 465
Dozers: 331
Water Tenders: 375
Helicopters: 92
(These numbers are totals from state, local and federal firefighting agencies. Updated 6/28 at 9:00 p.m.)
They are really scrambling for equipment.
They contracted a friend of mine in Carlsbad who has a low bed service for 2 weeks minimum to move heavy equipment.
He had to pick up a D-8 in Temecula, deliver it to No. California and then move equipment for at least 2 more weeks.
http://www.independent.com/news/2008/jul/05/all-quiet-western-front/
Personnel Committed: 19,233
Resources Committed:
Engines: 1,523
Crews: 410
Dozers: 293
Water Tenders: 413
Helicopters: 97
Structures:
Threatened: 10,057 residences, 395 commercial, 1,827 outbuildings.
Destroyed: 40 residences, 1 commercial, 59 outbuildings.
Piute Fire
The Piute Fire has burned 25,591 acres and is 26% contained
Gap Fire - Goleta
The GAP fire has burned 10,000 acres and is 30% contained
Basin Complex - Big Sur CA
The Basin Complex is 77,165 acres, and 18% contained.
The giant Martin Mars water bomber scoops up a load of water from Lake Shasta on Friday afternoon on its way to help fight the Motion Fire (16,700-acres)
From the LA Times:
Brothers' backfire saves family compound in Big Sur
*****************************EXCERPT********************************
By Eric Bailey and Deborah Schoch, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
July 7, 2008 BIG SUR -- As flames swirled toward their family homestead, the Curtis brothers figured they'd get no help and had no choice: The only way to hold on to their 55-acre compound would be to fight fire with fire.
In the end, the controlled burn they set helped save the homes on their beloved Apple Pie Ridge -- but not without major consequences.>
That’s quite a story. The brothers’ charges will never stick.
Temperatures across the mountains and inland valleys will warm further on Tuesday afternoon. In the warmest valley and mountain locations... temperatures will approach or exceed 105 degrees. High temperatures in the Antelope Valley will be around 110 degrees... near to or eclipsing record levels. Though not as warm as in coastal sections... temperatures will generally range from the 70s at the beaches... to around 90 inland... with foothill locations likely approaching or exceeding 100 degrees. Heat index values will likely exceed 100 degrees on Tuesday in the Valley... Mountain... and desert locations.
Looks like a picked a stellar week to head north.
Total Acres Burned: 667,863
Update on Incidents in Northern California:
CA-LNF - Cub Complex = 11,738 acres. and 75% containment
CA-LMU - Corral = 12,500 acres and 95% containment
CA-SRF - Hells Half Complex = 3,784 acres and 54% containment
CA-SRF - Blue 2 = 1,800 acres and 10% containment
CA-SRF - Ukonom = 11,037 acres and 12% containment
CA -SRF - Mad Complex = 3705 acres and 90% containment
CA-MNF - Yolla Bolly complex = 7,987 acres and 65% containment
CA-MNF - Soda Complex = 6,080 acres and 76% containment
CA-TNF - Yuba River Complex = 3,813 acres and 95% contaiment
CA-TNF - American River Complex = 10,211 acres and 20 % containment
CA-WNP - Whisytown Complex = 5,000 acres and 50% containment
CA-SHU - SHU Complex = 56,11 and 45% containment
CA-SHF - Iron Complex = 30,377 acres and 50% containment
CA-SHF - Alps Complex = 816 acres and 80% containment
CA-SHF - Lime Complex = 49,019 acres and 64% containment
CA-KNF - Siskiyou Complex = 18,600 acres and 25% containment
CA-PNF - Canyon Complex = 22,305 acres and 57% containment
CA-SHU - SHU Lightning Complex = 53,600 acres and 55 % containment
CA-MEU - MEU Lightining Complex =51,200 acres and 60% containmentt
CA-BTU - BTU Complex = 49,000 acres and 40 % containment
CA-HUU - HUU Complex = 1,310 acres and 80 % containment
Basin Complex (CA-LPF-1649) 86,726 acres, 2 7 % contained.
Southern Operations
Indians - Big Sur (CA-LPF-1491) 81,378 acres, 97% contained. Poor overnight humidity recovery contributed to moderate fire behavior.
Piute - Kern (CA-SQF-1356) 33,152 acres, 2 8 %containment.
Gap - Goleta (CA-LPF-1778) 9, 710 acres, 55 % contained .
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