Vegetation fires are common in California during the summer months and this summer is no different. At 2:52 pm, on July 26, 2005, The California Department of Forestry (CDF) crew operating Alameda County (ALCO) Engine 3454, was alerted to a vehicle fire and nearby vegetation fire. They immediately reported the incident to the CDF Santa Clara Ranger Unit headquarters in Morgan Hill and requested a full wildland response.
The fire spread rapidly into the vegetation and was already approximately five acres at the time of the initial report. Due to the location of the fire it was quickly determined that there was an immediate threat to structures including numerous homes that dot the rolling hills throughout the area.
CDF's response was quick and decisive with additional resources being called in to attack the fire from the ground and the air.
Additional engines were also requested to serve as structure protection leading to the call out of strike teams from neighboring counties.
With the formation of a unified command, CDF and other participating agencies were able to stop the spread of the fire and prevent any damage from occurring to the homes in the area.
At last count the fire had consumed over 400 acres requiring approximately 300 firefighters to stop the advance of flames.
