Latest: ( Monday 6:00 p.m.)
The Summit Fire is now estimated to be 80% contained.
As of 3 p.m.Monday, the following roads in Corralitos and Croy Road areas were opened to residents only with proof of residency:
- Eureka Canyon Road and Rider Road to Ormsby Road
- Hazel Dell Road
- Buzzard Lagoon Road
- Browns Valley Road
- Croy Road
The following areas will remain closed:
- Mt. Madonna Park
- Loma Prieta Road / Summit Road
- Ormsby Road
The weather is hoped to continue in aiding firefighters to control the fire. They have set an objective of 100% containment by the end of day Tuesday. The fire now totals approximately burned 4,270 acres.
On Monday the number of reported homes lost in the blaze was updated to 36. CAL Fire Batt. Chief and spokeman Dave Shew believes that all those homes were lost on Thursday, when the fire grew most rapidly. Firefighters are only now getting deeper into the fire areas and able to see more foundations that they didn't know existed before, according to Chief Shew.
Over 100 residences remain threatened. Six minor injuries to firefighters have been reported. There are now over 2,631 firefighting personnel working to further contain the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Early Satuday morning the fire jumped the the nine-mile containment line established by firefighters, and moved into Santa Clara County, forcing the evacuation of about 50 residents in the community of Sveadal.
Friday, firefighters had been working on a nine-mile containment line, using area roads wherever possible for the perimeter – Brown Creek Road for the east edge, Summit Road at the north, and Buzzard's Lagoon for part of the West edge. For much of the perimeter, there are no roads available. The ruggedness of the terrain mandates a cross-country approach with hand tools to clearing the brush in some areas.
The fire was first reported Thursday morning at about 5:30 a.m., and grew rapidly throughout the day, being fanned by unseasonably high winds.
There were at least 350 mandatory & 1400 voluntary home evacuations. The Governor declared a State of Emergency in Santa Cruz County Thursday, and held a press conference Friday in Gilroy.
A fire on Quail Hollow Road in Felton/Ben Lomond
burned 15 acres before it was 100% contained shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday. That fire started when a tree toppled in the wind hit power lines. A tanker plane was diverted from the summit fire and helped douse the flames quickly.
KUSP Audio Interviews:
Monday's Talk of the Bay full show - runs 49:04
Robert Pollie interviews CAL Fire officials
Cal Fire 4:30 pm Mon return update  runs1:32 sec.
Cal Fire 9 am Mon longer Interview runs10:04 sec.
Structures lost update Monday. 5/26 - 8:10 a.m.
Corralitos interview 1 Sunday. 5/25
Corralitos interview 2 Sunday. 5/25
Fire Recovery Fund Frday. 5/23
Note: In the interest of keeping all information on this page current, older audio files are generally removed as they are replaced by files containing more current information.
Evacuation Updates:
As of 3 p.m. today, the following roads in Corralitos and Croy Road areas will be opened to residents only with proof of residency:
• Eureka Canyon Road and Rider Road to Ormsby Road
• Hazel Dell Road
• Buzzard Lagoon Road
• Browns Valley Road,
• Croy Road
The following areas will remain closed:
• Mt. Madonna Park
• Loma Prieta Road / Summit Road
Residents can call the evacuation hotline:
831- 471-1121 to learn more specifics about returning to their area, or contact Sherrif's command post at Corralitos Fire Station.
Partial List of Road Closures:
Portions of these roads could still be closed to the general public:
Mc Phee Road
Croy Road at Uvas Rd.
Summit Road
Buzzards Lagoon Road
Browns Valley Rd.
Vaca Del Sol
Lower Highlands
Eureka Canyon Road
Green Valley road at Hazel Dell
Corralitos Road north of Hames
Poleline N. of 152
The following parks are closed:
Mt. Madonna Park and
Uvas Canyon Parks
The Forest of Nisene Marks
School Closure Info:
Loma Prieta School will be closed Tuesday.
Mt. Madonna School will be open Tuesday. While it had been reported otherwise earlier in the day, the school will open at 10 a.m. Access to the school is via Hecker Pass Road only; Mt. Madonna Road and Redwood Retreat Road are still closed.
Red Cross: As of 9 a.m. Sunday they have no shelters open, as all residents have found shelter with hotels, friends or family. The Red Cross has mobile outreach teams traveling throughout reachable areas to offer escort to families as needed. Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville. The Red Cross is requesting financial donations. They have lost two emergency vehicles as a result of the fires. Call 831.462.2881 or go to their website.
Donations:
Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County - 477-0800 ext. 208
Red Cross 462-2881 - Accepts cash donations
Salvation Army 429-8118 - Accepts required items.
The United Way - 831 479-5466 -Summit Fire Recovery Fund
or United Way of Santa Cruz, County 1220 41st Ave, Capitola, CA 95010
Animal Services: Santa Cruz Animal Services helping with large animal evacuations. For information, 454-7303. Animal Services said they are accepting animals at shelters on 27 Janis Way in Scotts Valley and 580 Airport Blvd. in Watsonville from 9 a.m. until about 6 p.m.
The fairgrounds in Watsonville is taking any larger animals from cows to horses, pigs, goats, chickens, etc. Donations of buckets, horse food, hay and halters, etc. are all needed at the Fairgrounds. If people need help transporting animals, they should call 454-7303, Ext. 1 to get to a dispatcher. For those interest in adopting an animla or are looking for their lost animal, www.scanimalseervices.com.
Other Media Sources:
Waveturtle - tracking Google News, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube
Santa Cruz Sentinel
KUSP is a community public radio station serving the Central Coast of California. The ability of KUSP to report on this emergency has been made possible by scores of volunteers and a small staff. We wish to acknowledge and thank everyone who has contributed their time and great energy to this effort.
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