Santa Cruz Mountains Wildfire Explodes

SANTA CLARA and SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES, CA – UPDATE: TUESDAY, SEPT. 27, 9:15 p.m.

A wildfire has grown to about 2,250 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains of southern Santa Clara County since Monday afternoon, destroying one home, damaging another and leading to hundreds of evacuations, according to Cal Fire.

The Loma Fire sparked in the area of Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads about 10 miles northwest of Morgan Hill around 2:50 p.m. Monday, Cal Fire officials said.

The area is north of the border between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, where a large plume of smoke could be seen for miles.

On Monday, the fire had spread to more than 400 acres as of 5:40 p.m., and grown to 1,000 acres by 9:30 p.m.

The blaze has charred through 2,250 acres and was 10 percent contained as of this evening.

It has spread to the Mount Loma Prieta, Mount Chual and Uvas Creek drainages, Cal Fire officials said.
Roughly 300 structures are threatened and numerous residents of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties have been evacuated, Oliver said.

Reverse 911 calls have been sent to affected Santa Clara County residents through the AlertSCC notification system, Cal Fire officials said.

Residents have been ordered to leave the Loma Prieta ridgeline area that includes Uvas Canyon County Park and Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to the Ormsby Fire Station, according to Cal Fire.
In Santa Clara County, deputies helped evacuate people on Loma Prieta, Casa Loma, Summit, Uvas and Loma Chiquita roads, sheriff's officials said.

In Santa Cruz County, people have been advised to evacuate Summit Road between Loma Prieta and the Ormsby Cutoff, county officials said.An evacuation center initially set up at Soquel High School at 401
Old San Jose Road in Soquel has moved to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds' Grange Hall at 2601 East Lake Avenue in Watsonville, county officials said.

Other centers are available at the Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley at 14855 Oka Road in Los Gatos and Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church at 16970 De Witt Ave. in Morgan Hill, Cal Fire officials said.

Traffic has been blocked in multiple areas including Loma Chiquita Road, Mount Bache Road at Highland Road and Mount Madonna Road at Pole Line Road, Cal Fire officials said.

Residents are allowed to travel on Croy and Uvas roads, according to Cal Fire.

More than 500 firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze with assistance from helicopter, air tanker and water tender crews, according to Cal Fire.

Many firefighters from San Jose, the Bay Area and throughout the state have been sent to help extinguish the blaze working under 24-hour shifts, Oliver said.

The high temperatures have increased the need for crews to stay hydrated and stay ahead of the "fatigue factor," Oliver said.

The state's Office of Emergency Service has sent its large animal rescue volunteer group to rescue horses and other livestock, according to Oliver.

Those with livestock can seek assistance at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds and Santa Cruz County Horsemen's Association grounds on Graham Hill Road, American Red Cross officials said.

The blaze has led to a power outage for 191 PG&E customers in Santa Clara County as of this afternoon, utility officials said.

PG&E crews were sent to Uvas and Croy roads this afternoon to cut vegetation near power poles and spray the poles with fire retardant to lessen the chance of damage from the blaze, according to PG&E.

No injuries had been reported as of this afternoon. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Anyone looking for more information on the fire can call the Loma Fire public hotline at (408) 779-0930.

UPDATE, MONDAY, SEPT. 26 10:00 P.M.

Cal Fire confirms that the Loma Fire has now consumed 1,000 acres.

UPDATE, MONDAY, SEPT. 26 6:30 P.M.

A fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains has burned more than 500 acres and led to evacuations in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties this afternoon, authorities said.

The blaze was reported around 2:50 p.m. in the area of Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads off of Summit Road, Cal Fire Assistant Chief Michael Borelli said.

The area is north of the border between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, where a large plume of smoke could be seen for miles.

The fire has spread to more than 500 acres as of 6:40 p.m., fire officials said.

No injuries have been reported.

Evacuation orders have been issued for people in about 300 structures near the fire on Casa Loma Road, Loma Chiquita Road and Loma Prieta Road, Borelli said.

Roughly 200 firefighters have responded to the scene to battle the blaze with assistance from helicopter and air tanker crews, according to Borelli.

San Jose firefighters have also been sent to the scene, city fire official said.

The fire appears to be within the vicinity of buildings for radio stations KBAY-FM and KKUP-FM.

In Santa Clara County, deputies are helping evacuate people on Loma Prieta Road, Casa Loma Road, Summit Road, Uvas Road and Loma Chiquita Road, sheriff's officials said.

In Santa Cruz County, people have also been instructed to leave the area of Mount Bache Road, Loma Prieta Road and Highland Way, sheriff's officials said.

An evacuation center has been set up at Soquel High School, according to sheriff's officials.

Closures are also in effect at Mount Bache and Loma Prieta roads; Mount Bache and Highland Way and Mount Madonna and Pole Line roads, sheriff's officials said.
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UPDATE: MONDAY, SEPT. 26, 6 P.M.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA – Cal Fire crews and firefighters from agencies throughout the area are pouring into the Santa Cruz Mountains to battle a wildfire that sparked at 2:45 p.m. and within two hours grew to at least 400-500 acres, with 1,000 acres possible.

EVACUATIONS: Mount Bache Road area and KSBW transmission tower area.

ROAD CLOSURES: Several roads in the fire vicinity are closed, with more being closed every few minutes. The California Highway Patrol is assisting with that effort.

The fire started as a structure fire on Loma Chiquita Road, spread to nearby vegetation and took off, according to a fire spokesperson.

It's a sparsely populated, remote area, but some homes are threatened. An evacuation center has been set up at Soquel High School.

The blaze has been dubbed the Loma Fire.

The blaze is threatening critical emergency radio towers on Loma Prieta peak, according to San Jose Fire Fighters Local 230. Flames are also threatening TV transmission towers on Mount Loma Prieta.

The smoke is visible throughout the South Bay, in Santa Cruz and valleys to the east.

Six fixed-wing tankers are dropping retardant, and helicopters are dropping water. A helicopter has landed near the fire and let off fire crews.

Personnel is being moved from the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County to the Loma Fire.

Also see:

• Sawmill Fire Holds Steady Overnight At 1,500 Acres; Containment Improves
• Bulldozer Operator Injured In Soberanes Fire; Containment at 76%

UPDATE: Crews Fighting 30-Acre Wildfire In Santa Cruz Mountains

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates.

Photo via Bea Karnes/ Patch