Summit Fire- New Evacs Ordered

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Summit Fire- New Evacs Ordered

SANTA CLARA CO.: MANDATORY EVACUATIONS ISSUED FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY

The Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services today issued the county's first mandatory evacuations and road closures due to the Summit Fire after the blaze crossed over the Santa Cruz-Santa Clara county borders.

Approximately 50 residents in the area of Croy and McPhee roads near Morgan Hill north of the fire were forced to leave their homes today, the office of emergency services reported.

Five roads have been closed to the public as well. Hazel Dell Road was closed due to fire equipment access, Croy Road was closed to evacuate residents due to the fire's proximity and Eureka Canyon, Loma Prieta and Buzzard Lagoon roads were closed due to fire activity, according to the office of emergency services.

There is no estimated time when the roads will reopen or when residents can return to their homes.

The American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter opened a shelter for evacuees at Live Oak High School, located at 1505 East Main Ave. in Morgan Hill.

Food, water and mental health services are provided but the shelter cannot accommodate animals. Residents with questions about livestock and domestic pets may call the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter at (408) 686-3900.

For additional shelter information, residents may call the Red Cross at (408) 577-1000.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for Santa Clara County today to ensure financial resources are available to fight the Summit Fire, which has burned more than 3,000 acres since Thursday morning.

The fire started in Santa Clara County but quickly burned into Santa Cruz County, where the majority of the blaze is located, according to Cal Fire. At about 1:30 a.m. today the fire returned to Santa Clara County, where it had burned about 100 acres by around 3 p.m.

The fire has burned 17 homes and 11 businesses and is threatening around 550 other homes. Cal Fire officials do not believe the flames will be contained until Friday.

Source: CBS News Sunday 12:01AM

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Sunday, May 25, 2008