The billowing smoke hovering in the sky over Mt. Madonna Park
which greeted Gilroy residents Thursday morning served as a stern
reminder that there is danger in the California hills, and it is
perilously and perennially with us.
1. Thankfully from the Gilroy vantage point, the winds weren’t normal
The billowing smoke hovering in the sky over Mt. Madonna Park which greeted Gilroy residents Thursday morning served as a stern reminder that there is danger in the California hills, and it is perilously and perennially with us.
In fact, if the wind patterns were normal Thursday, the danger to west Gilroy would have been immediate. Usually the breeze blows over the mountains from the ocean, reported Summit Road residents Mark and Nancy Hildebrand, but Thursday was different.
Wind, however, is fickle and what the weekend will bring is uncertain, but the firefighting troops will be marshalled and the likelihood of the Summit Fire racing down the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz mountains unmolested toward El Matador Drive, Hecker Pass Winery and Watsonville Road is considerably dampened.
2. The Summit Fire took just six hours to surpass the Croy blaze
It’s been six years since our last wildfire that seriously threatened homes. The Croy Fire in the hills west of South County started Sept. 23, 2002, and burned 3,127 acres. Thirty four homes were lost, six were damaged and firefighters along with residents saved more than 65 homes. More than 2,100 firefighters were on the lines. It took a week and more than $8 million to put the fire out. Fortunately, only 11 minor injuries were reported. The fire in Coe Park last summer burned 40,000 acres, but the threat to homes and human life was virtually non-existent.
The Summit Fire took just six hours to surpass the Croy Fire in terms of acreage. The wind and fuel conditions bestowed leapfrog capabilities upon the flames. The full story will take days to unfold.
The winds are supposed to shift to more normal patterns Friday morning, and most assuredly the CalFire command will be developing battle plans based on shifting weather information.
3. Keeping 100 feet of defensible space around your home is key
One enduring Gilroy memory from the Croy Fire is this community’s generosity shown to firefighters set up at the base camp at Christmas Hill Park. The firefighters will be back this weekend and Gilroyans will undoubtedly and happily bring baked cookies, sandwiches and all sorts of goodies to show their appreciation. That’s who we are.
On the legislative homefront, in 2005 a new law extended the defensible space clearance around homes and structures from 30 feet to 100 feet. According to the CalFire web site, the proper clearance to 100 feet dramatically increases the chance of a house surviving a wildfire and provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a wildland fire.
As this conflagration rages, we wish all the firefighters safe passage during their work and hope that the winds settle and the battle is won without loss of life.
Wildfire safety
To learn how to protect your home in a wildfire, go to:
