Emergencies
Summit Fire
The Summit fire has its own page now. Please click the link above.
Mt. Madonna Fire
Photos courtesy of Scotty
4/22/08
Photos courtesy of Chief Kylee
3/21/08
Dave
Our tender filling SV tender
Jim returning from the fire line
Photos courtesy of Captain Dave
Jim on the line
3/20/08
Photos Courtesy of Chief Kylee
Scotty bedding hose
Jim Before Jim After
Scott and Guy from Loma Prieta
Crew in smoke
Croy Fire
Documentation Courtesy of Anita
Holser
Current CDF Status Report
CDF Incident maps
The Croy fire started Monday, Sept 23, 2002 approximately 2pm in the 7900 block of Croy Rd (outside the lower gray gate). The fire spread quickly through the dry grass. Low humidity, high temperatures and light winds spread the fire rapidly. By 4pm, the smoke could be seen as far north as Redwood Shores.
Over 400 fire fighters, including our volunteers, CDF, local fire departments, and helicopters fought it all day, and crews continued on foot through the night. 
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By 9pm, the fire had split into two branches, one headed up towards Loma Chiquita, the other proceeded up the Southeast side of Uvas canyon towards Mt. Madonna. |
In the morning there were more than 700 firefighers on the line. Our volunteers, CDF, surrounding fire departments and Helicopters fought the fire through the morning. |
By Tuesday morning the fire had grown to about 1600 acres. An inversion layer that developed shortly after dawn and lasted until about noontime hampered air tankers.
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 Tuesday afternoon the inversion layer cleared and air tankers joined the helicopters and ground crews to contain the fire. Although they slowed the fire's progress, the fire continued to spread up the hill onto Loma Chiquita, destroying homes, barns and other structures. |
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 Many people outside the immediate community came to assist the residents Tuesday as the fire approached homes on Loma Chiquita. The Normans brought in their heavy equipment and water trucks to clear around people's homes and cut firebreaks. Wilson Veterinary Clinic offered temporary shelter to a large number of pets. Summit Store donated food to the firefighters. My apologies for not being able to name all those who came to our assistance. |
 Tuesday evening the fire flared, sending flames and smoke hundreds of feet in the air. The flames could be seen as far away as San Jose.  |
By Wednesday evening it was apparent that the fire's northern movement had been stalled, if not contained, though it continued to progress southward towards Mt. Madonna. Residents of Loma Chiquita were evacuated in the late afternoon. Early evening, PGE shut off power east of Mercury Springs to reduce the danger of new electrical fires starting in the fire-damaged area. |
Wednesday morning the fire had grown to about 2000 acres. More than 1000 firefighters were working on the blaze, split between the Loma Chiquita ridge and the bigger blaze near Mt. Madonna. The fire on Loma Chiquita was behind the Rupp's, east of the Casa Loma - Loma Chiquita intersection. The firefighters worked all day to create a fire-break, set back-fires and insure the safety of the many homes in the area. Heavy, dense smoke made airplane drops impossible, though helicopters continued through the day.
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| By Thursday morning the fire had grown to about 3100 acres, still spreading southeast towards Mt. Madonna around Redwood Retreat and Mt. Madonna Park, with over 1900 firefighters on the lines. The northern end on Loma Chiquita had been suppressed substantially. Cool weather, higher humidity and calm winds helped the firefighters throughout the day. Although helicopters were active all day, heavy smoke and fog prevented airplanes from making drops. Residents east of the Casa Loma - Loma Chiquita intersection were not allowed access because of continued danger from the fire and back-fires. |
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By Friday morning the fire was approximately 60% contained. Residents were allowed back east of the Loma Chiquita - Casa Loma intersection. Firebreak work continued. By evening the fire was 75% contained. A heavy fog persisted through the day. The fire investigators had sealed off the area where the fire started and are actively trying to determine the cause of the fire. |
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CDF declared the fire fully contained Sunday. Cleanup work and firebreak improvement will continue for some time.
Saturday the fire was 90% contained. Crews remained on the burn area cleaning up hotspots and clearing firebreaks. |
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| Our thanks go to many in the community who helped out during this emergency. |
| Photos by Paul Vicha, Anita Holser and Craig Ponkey |