Two raging grassfires scorched South County Sunday, the day
before the California Department of Forestry snuffed open burning
in Santa Clara County by suspending burn permits.
Gilroy – Two raging grassfires scorched South County Sunday, the day before the California Department of Forestry snuffed open burning in Santa Clara County by suspending burn permits.
Firefighters spent eight hours quelling a six-acre blaze west of Watsonville Road between Day and Burchell roads Sunday, starting at 9am and sweating it out until 5pm. A downed power line sparked the fire, and prevented ground crews from attacking the flames until PG&E de-energized the wire. Helicopters toting water contained the fire before the line was cut, allowing firefighters to push onto the steep hillside and douse the flames.
“Our concern was to keep it on that hillside and hold it there,” said Derek Witmer, South Santa Clara County Fire District Battalion Chief. “Access was really difficult – it’s really steep terrain.”
Though there are some homes across the hills, no structures were immediately threatened, said Witmer, nor did the flames harm the adjacent Dorcich Vineyards. Joining the attack were two Gilroy fire engines, two air tankers, two helicopters, two chief officers, four fire crews and seven engines from the CalFire, and two engines and a chief officer (Witmer) from SCCFD. Fire investigators have yet to determine what caused the power line to fall.
Only 20 minutes after the Watsonville Road fire was extinguished, a second fire ignited behind Chan Share Nursery at 14285 Murphy Avenue in San Martin. The two-acre grass fire was started by a battery charger left in the grass, said Witmer. The charger either shorted out or overcharged, sparking a fire that threatened 60,000 feet of greenhouses. One travel trailer was lost to the fire.
It took nearly two hours to extinguish the second blaze, said Witmer. Three SCCFD engines, five CalFire engines, and crews from Gilroy and the county helped; a CalFire bulldozer cut a fire line into the grass, stopping the flames’ spread.
After an especially dry spring, Witmer said firefighters are expecting similar weekends to come: The timber is as dry now as it would normally be in August, he explained.
Monday, CDF officials in several counties suspended burn permits, citing “the acute dryness of vegetation.” Santa Clara, Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Contra Costa and Alameda counties are covered by the bans, as well as the Stanislaus and San Joaquin areas west of Interstate 5. The bans prohibit open burning unless CDF officials inspect the burn site and issue a special permit. Campfires are still allowed in designated campgrounds.
Weed-eating and mowing has already sparked several fires in South County, added Witmer.
“A lot of fires in South County are started by good intentions,” he explained. “Folks are out there mowing in the heat of the day. They hit a rock. Sparks fly, and they’ve got a grassfire. If you’re going to mow or weed-eat, do it early in the morning, or late in the evening when it’s cooler.”
