Loma, Santa Clara County

Loma, Santa Clara Unit, Cal Fire. Fifteen miles south of San Jose, CA. Timber and chaparral. Minimal fire behavior.

October 5, 2016 at 8:15 AM

All evacuation orders and road closures issued by the Loma Fire Incident have been lifted.

Fire crews will remain throughout the fire perimeter in the coming weeks to provide fire suppression repair, remove firefighting equipment, mop up and patrol. Please drive slowly and use caution as emergency crews and equipment are still working in the area.

CAL FIRE Incident Management Team #2 appreciates all the community support in battling the Loma Fire. The Team will transition management of the Loma Fire back to the local CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit on Wednesday, October 5, at 7:00 AM.

October 4, 2016 at 8:06 AM

Minimal creeping and smoldering fire behavior. Crews continue to build line, hold existing line and provide protection to infrastructure and structures.

October 3, 2016 at 7:52 AM

Overnight, firefighters were able to reinforce existing fire lines. Extremely drought stressed vegetation conditions still exist, however the potential for torching trees has decreased. Steep and inaccessible terrain challenge firefighting efforts. Stumps and dead wood still have the potential to burn in these remote areas within the fire perimeter.

Today, firefighters will continue reinforcing fire lines and mopping up within the fire area. Firefighters will maintain readiness for any new flare-ups or hot spots that could potentially develop. Suppression repair activities will continue, including installation of erosion control measures.

October 2, 2016 at 8:42 AM

Threat remains for communities of Casa Loma, Loma Prieta, Loma Chiquita, Uvas, Croy and Summit Road areas above Twin Falls Creek.

CAL FIRE has received information regarding individuals who are soliciting donations throughout the communities affected by the Loma Fire. They are reportedly requesting cash for operations related to base camp at Christmas Hill Park and firefighting efforts associated with the fire. CAL FIRE cannot, is not, and will not accept donations for the Loma Fire Incident. It is against the law for California state agencies to solicit or accept any donation for its own use.

Overnight, the fire made minimal progress and continued to consume islands of unburned fuels that are at critically low fuel moistures. Extremely drought stressed vegetation conditions still exist, however the potential for torching trees has decreased. Steep and inaccessible terrain challenge firefighting efforts. Stumps and dead wood still have the potential to burn in these remote areas within the fire perimeter. Today, firefighters will continue holding the existing fire lines and maintaining readiness for any new flare-ups or hot spots that could potentially develop. Suppression repair activities will continue, including installation of erosion control measures.

October 1, 2016 at 10:40 AM

12 single residences and 16 outbuildings destroyed, 1 single residence damaged.

Santa Clara County: Mandatory evacuation orders for the Loma Prieta ridgeline area including all tributary roads along Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Ormsby Fire Station. This includes Uvas Canyon County Park, Loma Chiquita, Casa Loma, and Loma Prieta Way.

As of 12 PM October 1st the evacuation order for Croy Road and Sveadal is lifted. Learn what residents should do whenreturning home after a fire.

Overnight, the fire remained moderate while firefighters continued to build and reinforce containment lines around the fire perimeter. Islands of unburned dry vegetation within the fire perimeter have the potential to burn because of rolling material on steep terrain. Accessibility to the fire is hampered by narrow and congested roads. Weather forecasts are calling for North to Northwest winds to continue, temperatures in the upper 60’s, and relative humidity between 40-50 percent.

Please do not bring donations to the CAL FIRE Loma Fire Base Camp. While greatly appreciated, the camp is well supplied and self-sufficient. The Red Cross does not have the facilities to accept food or goods, but can accept monetary donations: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation Loma Fire food or goods donations can be delivered to the following locations:

Salvation Army of Gilroy: Address: 6701 Camino Arroyo, Gilroy, CA 95020, Phone: (408) 842-3991 ~ Accepting in-kind donations of clothing, household goods and toys.

Salvation Army of Santa Cruz: Address: 812 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, Phone: (831) 429-8118 ~ Accepting in-kind donations of clothing, bedding, materials, as well as any food donations.

Second Harvest Food Bank: Address: 800 Ohlone Pkwy, Watsonville, CA 95076, Phone: (831) 722-7110 ~ Accepting any bulk food donations or smaller items.

September 30, 2016 at 6:50 AM

The fire remained active, continuing to burn in steep inaccessible terrain covered by drought stressed fuels. Damage Inspection Specialists (DINS) have confirmed a total of 8 residences and 9 out buildings destroyed.

Evacuations:

Santa Clara County: Mandatory evacuation orders for the Loma Prieta ridgeline area including all tributary roads along Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Ormsby Fire Station. This includes Uvas Canyon County Park, Loma Chiquita, Casa Loma, and Loma Prieta Way. Portions of Croy Road are under an evacuation warning.

Santa Cruz County: All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted.

Evacuation alerts in Santa Clara County can be received by signing up for AlertSCC, visit: www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc/Pages/home.aspx.

Evacuation Centers:

Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, 16970 De Witt Avenue, Morgan Hill

Road Closures:    Loma Chiquita Road 1 mile east of Highland Way, Summit Road at Ormsby Cutoff, Croy Road 3 miles west of Uvas Road, Casa Loma and McKean Road

Cause:    Under investigation

8 single residence and 9 outbuildings destroyed, 1 single residence damaged.

September 29, 2016 at 7:36 AM

Firefighters continue to build and reinforce containment lines around the fire perimeter. 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.

Santa Clara County: Mandatory evacuation orders for the Loma Prieta ridgeline area including all tributary roads along Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Ormsby Fire Station. This includes Uvas Canyon County Park, Loma Chiquita, Casa Loma, and Loma Prieta Way. Portions of Croy Road are under an evacuation warning.

Santa Cruz County: All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted. Evacuation alerts in Santa Clara County can be received by signing up for AlertSCC, visit: www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc/Pages/home.aspx.

Evacuation Centers: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville (large animals welcome)
Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos
Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, 16970 De Witt Avenue, Morgan Hill

September 28, 2016 at 7:42 AM

Firefighters from throughout California are aggressively fighting the Loma Fire which continues to spread in the Loma Chiquita Road and Loma Prieta Road area of the Santa Cruz mountains. The fire is burning in steep inaccessible terrain covered in dry drought stressed fuels. The fire is currently burning in the Mt Loma Prieta, Mt Chual and Uvas Creek drainage’s. Firefighters continue to build a line around the fire and are holding the existing containment line.

Mandatory evacuation orders for the Loma Prieta ridgeline area including all tributary roads along Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Ormsby Fire Station. This includes Uvas Canyon County Park, Loma Chiquita, Casa Loma, Loma Prieta Way, Highland Road and Mount Bache Road. Portions of Croy Road are under an evacuation warning.

Reverse 911 calls have also been sent to residents using Alert SCC. If you have not already signed up for AlertSCC visit www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc/Pages/home.aspx.

Evacuation Centers: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville (large animals welcome)
Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos
Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, 16970 De Witt Avenue, Morgan Hill

September 27, 2016 at 2:14 PM

Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office: Evacuations recommended along Summit Rd between Loma Prieta and Ormsby Cutoff.

September 27, 2016 at 7:52 AM

Extreme fire behavior; spotting, short crown runs and torching observed. Evacuation orders remain in place.

Loma Prieta Repeater site, Chuals Ridge and Crystal Peak Communications site remain threatened.

Mandatory evacuation orders for the Loma Prieta ridgeline area including all tributary roads along Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Ormsby Fire Station. This includes Uvas Canyon County Park, Loma Chiquita, Casa Loma, Loma Prieta Way, Highland Road and Mount Bache Road. Portions of Croy Road are under an evacuation warning.

American Red Cross is coordinating with Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County officials and local community partners to support the residents impacted by the Loma Fire. Red Cross volunteers have opened three evacuation centers:

• Soquel High School, 401 Old San Jose Road, Soquel
• Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos
• Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, 16970 De Witt Avenue, Morgan Hill

SPCA is providing small animal care at the Soquel location. Large animals are being taken care of at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds. Care will also be provided for small animals at the Los Gatos and Morgan Hill locations

September 26, 2016 at 10:22 PM

Per CHP, closures: Mt Bache at Loma Prieta, Highland at Mt Bache, Mt Madonna at Pole Line – please avoid area for emergency personnel.

September 26, 2016 at 4:44 PM

Evacuations in Uvas Canyon Park, all of Croy Rd.

September 26, 2016 at 4:19 PM

Evacuations in progress.

September 26, 2016 at 4:16 PM

1,000 gallon propane tank at the repeater site per PG&E. No resources available to handle at this time.

September 26, 2016 at 4:01 PM

300 structures are threatened, along with transmission lines and Loma Prieta Repeater site. Unconfirmed reports of the repeater site being destroyed.