Tuesday, September 27, 2016

California's Rapidly Growing Loma Fire Forces Evacuations; 300 Buildings Threatened

Pam Wright
Published: September 27,2016

A fast-moving brush fire atop Loma Prieta in California's Santa Cruz Mountains has led to mandatory evacuations.
The Loma fire is threatening homes, and Cal Fire's latest report says the fire has grown to 2,250 acres and is 10 percent contained.
A firefighter sustained a minor eye injury while fighting the blaze and was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to The Mercury News.
Evacuations have been ordered for 300 buildings near the fire on Casa Loma, Loma Chiquita and Loma Prieta roads, according to Cal Fire.
The fire broke out at 2:45 p.m. Monday and began as a structure fire, according to KGO-TV. It has destroyed one other building, Matt Streck with Cal Fire told KGO.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Streck added that the fire broke out on a mountain ridge and the winds helped push the fire in many directions, which contributed to the rapid growth of the fire.
Several roads are closed, including Mt. Bache at Loma Prieta Road, Mt. Bache at Highland and Mt. Madonna Road at Pole Line Road.
There are also voluntary evacuations issued for the KSBW Tower on the summit, according to KGO.

Fire in Petaluma, California

A grass fire destroyed at least four homes and damaged another nine in Petaluma, California, Tuesday afternoon, The Press-Democrat reported.
Petaluma fire Battalion Chief Jeff Holden told The Press-Democrat the blaze began when a pile of eucaluptus leaves caught fire and spread into a row of dry eucalyptus trees.
Residents of the impacted homes took shelter in a shopping center, CBS San Francisco said. No injuries were reported.

Sawmill Fire

An evacuation order for a wildfire dubbed the Sawmill fire in Sonoma County, California, has been lifted. The fire that scorched 1,500 acres has not grown in the past 24 hours and is 75 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
The fire grew rapidly after it started on Sunday and forced the evacuation of a geothermal power producing plant on Tuesday.
The Sawmill fire burns east of Cloverdale, California, in this image taken Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016.
(Paul Lowenthal/Santa Rosa City Fire Department)





































(MORE: What Was Your Hottest Temperature This Summer?)
Brett Kerr, a spokesman for Calpine, which operates The Geysers geothermal complex, told CBS San Francisco that all employees were safe and accounted for. One of 14 facilities, the plant was not operating at the time, so there was no interruption of the flow of electricity.
“Our remaining plants at the Geysers continue to operate normally and our team is constantly assessing the situation and will take all steps necessary to ensure the safety of employees and the preservation of our facilities,” Kerr told the station in an email on Tuesday.
About 90 residents from 36 homes were under evacuation orders or advisories from the rapidly growing wildfire that's burning amid hot, dry conditions.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Cal Fire also said.
MORE: Wildfires Burn in the West

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