‘It Was An Inferno': Loma Fire 50 Percent Contained After Scorching 4,345 Acres, Destroying Eight Homes
By Robert Handa, Bob Redell, Laura Malpert, Rick Boone and NBC Bay Area staff ••
The Loma Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains grew slowly overnight, scorching 4,345 acres by Friday evening. Cal Fire crews have contained 50 percent of the blaze. Robert Handa reports.
The Loma Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains grew slowly overnight, scorching 4,345 acres by Friday evening, 200 acres more than the day before, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire crews have contained 50 percent of the blaze, which they hope to fully contain by Monday — a week after the wildfire started at the southern edge of Santa Clara County off Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads, 20 miles northwest of Morgan Hill.
So far, eight homes and nine outbuildings have been destroyed. One firefighter was also injured on Thursday. Angst has been building among displaced residents who say because they can't get back to their homes, they're not sure if they're still standing or not.
"We're smack right in the middle of the fire, and we don't even know if our stuff is destroyed," evacuee Daniel Garcia said at community meeting in Los Gatos Thursday night.
AP
Alameda County firefighter Wally Armstrong cools down hot spots in front of a residence leveled by the Loma fire near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Getty Images
LOS GATOS, CA - MAY 22: California Department of Forestry firefighters monitor the Summit fire May 22, 2008 in Los Gatos, California. A wind driven wildfire dubbed the Summit fire is sweeping through the Santa Cruz Mountains and has burned over 3,000 acres and at least 12 structures. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
AP
A hot tub rests in front of a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
Rubble lines a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
A burned-out truck rests in a clearing after the Loma fire tore along a ridge top near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
A melted basketball hoop rests in a clearing after the Loma fire tore along a ridge top on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
Vintage cars line a property after the Loma fire burned through Loma Chiquita Road near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California has worsened a wildfire that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
Fremont firefighter Collin Spencer hoses down a hot spot while battling the Loma fire near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
AP
Firefighters knock down walls of a building structure while battling the Loma fire near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Despite firefighters' hopes to contain the fire in a few days, Cal Fire Batallion Chief Jonathan Cox said there are challenges ahead.
"The big concern right now is we have this weather pattern that is changing right now, and this is a dry low pressure system that is coming in across the region," he said. "We are looking at 30 mph winds at the ridge top in the Uvas creek drainage areas ... So we need to continue to be aggressive out there to get some good containment."
Firefighters are searching for hotspots and bracing for surging winds that they are afraid that could rejuvinate the flames. Helicopters are using ponds in the mountains to reload for water drops.
According to Brandon Vaccaro with Cal Fire, there is "an extreme amount of danger with this wind as it comes in" because it could result in "more embers flying, potentially crossing the fire line."
Tours of Loma Chiquita Road showed ravaged earth and destruction.
Storage units and a winery were scorched, power lines were down, and marijuana grows were covered with fire retardant. Elsewhere, trailers and vintage cars had been burned to a rubble, and houses spared by the flames were scattered throughout the battered terrain.
One homeowner, a volunteer firefighter, said he lost his vineyard but his home was saved. But the same can't be said for many of his neighbors.
"It was an inferno," said David Ward, who owns a home on Loma Chiquita Road. "It looked like bombs were going off and so the only thing you’re thinking is … ‘Are we going to make it out of here?’”
Mandatory evacuations in Santa Clara County remained in effect. And even those who were not required to leave their homes in the San Jose's Almaden Valley feel they're in an at-risk zone — from all the smoke and ash.
AP
Flames from a wildfire tower above firefighters as they try to stop the blaze from crossing Loma Prieta Ave. near Morgan Hill, California, on, Sept. 27, 2016.
AP
Anthony Lopez harvests marijuana plants as the Loma fire burns around his home near Morgan Hill, California, on Sept. 27, 2016.
AP
Anthony Lopez, with his girlfriend Sarah Torres, harvests marijuana plants as the Loma fire burns around his home near Morgan Hill, California, on Sept. 27, 2016.
AFP/Getty Images
Firefighters attempt to save the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on Sept. 27, 2016.
AFP/Getty Images
A structure burns as flames rage out of control in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California, on Sept. 27, 2016.
AFP/Getty Images
Firefighters look on as flames approach the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California, on Sept. 27, 2016.
AFP/Getty Images
Firefighters attempt to push back flames in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California, on Sept. 27, 2016.
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
@SCCDP/Twitter
NBC Bay Area
@angbeees/Twitter
NBC Bay Area
@caitrinolivieri/Twitter
@kgrabini/Twitter
@giblev/Twitter
@davidccolby/Twitter
@zanderkasper/Twitter
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
Willie McGrady / NBC Bay Area
The view of the fire from Highway 85 and Cottle
NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area
On Tuesday morning, Loma Fire burned 1,000 acres on Santa Cruz mountain. (Sept. 27, 2016)
On Tuesday morning, Loma Fire burned 1,000 acres on the Santa Cruz mountain. (Sept. 27, 2016)
NBC Bay Area
On Tuesday morning, Loma Fire burned 1,000 acres on the Santa Cruz mountain. (Sept. 27, 2016)
Closeup of the Loma Fire on early Tuesday morning on the Santa Cruz mountain. (Sept. 27, 2016)
Bob Redell/NBC Bay Area
Loma Fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountain on early Tuesday morning. (Sept. 27, 2016)
Bob Redell/NBC Bay Area
Loma Fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountain on early Tuesday morning. (Sept. 27, 2016)
Bob Redell/NBC Bay Area
Loma Fire burning in the Santa Cruz mountain on early Tuesday morning. (Sept. 27, 2016)
Stephen Stock
Stephen Stock
@arandadesigns/Hector A. Aranda
Michael Horn
Aerial firefighting fighting the Loma Fire in the Santa Cruz mountain on Tuesday morning. (Sept. 27, 2016)
The origin and cause of the Loma Fire remain under investigation. An evacuation center can be found at Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church at 16970 De Witt Avenue.
