On the afternoon of June 11, at approximately 2:54 p.m., units from the San Mateo-Santa Cruz CAL FIRE Unit responded to reports of a vegetation fire in the area of 1222 Martin Road in the community of Bonny Doon.
Battalion 1713 arrived on scene to discover a two acre blaze burning into heavy fuel and being driven by gusty winds.
With the fire beginning to make substantial runs the Incident Commander immediately placed several resource orders including mutual aid requests for multiple strike teams of hand crews, engines, and overhead. Additional sir assets were also requested to assist with the fire suppression efforts.
Continued gusty winds, low humidity, and heavy fuel loads contributed to the growth of the fire and the assignment of Incident Command Team 8, nearly 900 firefighters, 61 engines, 31 hand crews, and six helicopters. Meanwhile some 1,500 local residents were evacuated from the area and offered shelter at the San Lorenzo Valley Middle School.
Because of the rapid advance of the flames approximately 10 homes were destroyed, but hundreds of others were saved through the valiant efforts of firefighters working long hours and under severe conditions.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and there have been no reports of serious injuries.
