Sam Shueh
Realty One Group
Silicon Valley, CA
Back on September 26 3:00 PM a big mountain fire broke out (Another major fire near Silicon Valley). The hot weather (recorded as 102 deg F, 18% relative humidity) in Loma Prieta part of Santa Cruz mountains. It was spotted by a fire helicopter pilot happened in the area, He dropped off 5 fire fighters and took off. It became a big hill fire immediately.
With that many fixed winged aircraft and helicopters hovering over southern Santa Clara Valley putting out hill fires close to heavily populated cities below the mountains. I decided to see first hand what they are doing. California Fire department is determined to put out fires and it brings flame retardants from Hollister airport, while San Martin airport was predominantly used as helicopter launch ground. It looks like they hired a contractor company from Paso Robles, CA. The helicopters use special jet fuel and they brought their own fueling trucks, and has a command center at tiny airport in San Martin, CA.
Consider us here in Silicon Valley lucky. The day the fire started was one of the hottest day of the year. It was 102 deg F when a Cal Fire helicopter was on its way to an unrelated call in Santa Cruz area shortly before 3 p.m. when the crew spotted smoke and flames coming “from a fully involved structure fire” . The pilot dropped off several fire fighters and by the time the chopper took off “the fire was already an acre in size. And when he looked back during taking off, it was 25 acres. That’s how fast it was spreading.’’
Firefighting helicopter jet fuel-San Martin, CA Another one coming for refueling
San Martin command center Siller is an out of town service provider
The fire fighting team wasted no time and quickly setup a command post at Christmas Park where the Garlic Festival was held not long ago. Fire engines were quickly called in. Local prison inmates were called in to help with fire fighting.
Here is a terse film of one of them with a canvas type bucket leaving for local reservoir to fill the waterand the canvas bucket bottom can be released by pulling a cord (Fire fighting helicopter over Silicon Valley). When I was there about 1 PM there were four helicopters there getting refueled and crews had a lunch break. Maintenance crews were wiping the windows and check the engines.
return base for refueling
This is the magnitude of the fire and what is likely to be up there inside a helicopter( Loma Prieta Fire seen from the sky).
As for the fire, in spite of cooler weather and ability to jumped into the fire fighting at the beginning it is so dry with heavy vegetation 4,471 acres has burned so far and it is 74% contained already 6 days into fire fighting. The cause has not been determined but "pot growing" is a very likely cause according to the neighbors. I also learned someone who did not start the fire was charged for growing weeds in the same area. It has been advised not to venture inside as many residents have key interest to protect their "crops".
SOURCE:
SJ Hg News Santa Clara County is on multiple fires (Silicon Valley got several fires)
Shueh, Sam How is my Silicon Valley home worth? (Silicon Valley Home Values)
Silicon Valley Real Estate July 2016 (San Jose area real estate update)
Shueh, Sam (Real EstateBlogs)
Sam Shueh Realtor
I've called San Francisco South Bay home for over 30 years. We love this area and all it has to offer, and I enjoy sharing what I know about homes. I documented in several books about Silicon Valley history. I have much expertise in real estate...please give me a call. SamshuehRealtor@gmail.com
(Four-O-Eight) 425-1601
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