A brush fire on the southern slope near Mt. Madonna Park likely
caused by a third lightening strike caused Santa Clara County
Sheriff’s Office deputies to restrict traffic on Hwy. 152 at
Thousand Trails.
A brush fire on the southern slope near Mt. Madonna Park likely caused by a third lightening strike caused Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office deputies to restrict traffic on Hwy. 152 at Thousand Trails.
The fire, estimated at 25 acres at approximately 9 p.m., was located on the south side of the hill between near Sprig Lake but below the summit of Mt. Madonna. Fire officials said earlier in the afternoon they had hoped to contain it to 20 or 25 acres, but by 9 p.m. it was still spreading.
The park was evacuated by rangers, and for a short while, a party of hikers was unaccounted for but was later located and safely evacuated.
The wind was relatively calm on the hillside, and fire officials said they hoped to have the fire quickly contained using helicopters and air tankers as well as a ground attack.
No one was injured in the blaze, and there were no buildings in danger of burning. The hillside is rugged terrain, and, according to fire officials, mainly redwoods are burning.
