Fire crews had the Pacheco Fire fully contained by Sunday
evening and reported no structure damages and only two minor
injuries, a CalFire spokesman said this morning. More than 350
firefighters battled relentless temperatures as they worked to
contain the blaze that lasted more than a day and consumed 1,650
acres of ranch land.
Fire crews had the Pacheco Fire fully contained by Sunday evening and reported no structure damages and only two minor injuries, a CalFire spokesman said this morning.
More than 350 firefighters battled relentless temperatures as they worked to contain the blaze that lasted more than a day and consumed 1,650 acres of ranch land.
“We’ve really worked hard to keep it at that acreage,” CalFire Fire Prevention Specialist and Information Officer Chris Morgan said. “We managed to keep it at (1,650 acres), which is phenomenal … It could have been a lot more.”
Most area residents and passers-through felt the effects of the blaze – which started about 2:15 p.m. Saturday after a single vehicle injury accident occurred on Highway 152 near Bell Station – when flames jumped south over Highway 152 later that evening. The California Highway Patrol closed the road in both directions from about 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, halting traffic between Los Banos to the east and Gilroy and Hollister to the west.
Five families and individuals fed up with the traffic and smoke booked rooms at Casa de Fruta, a 101-year-old orchard along Highway 152 that has overnight accommodations and a 24-hour gas station. The fire started about two miles east of the business and moved mostly in that direction. Many people pulled over to ask Casa de Fruta Partner Gene Zanger about the smoke while CalFire officials used his property to refill water tankers and helicopters. Other firefighters ate at the restaurant after their shifts.
“CHP did a great job maintaining safety on the road and CalFire worked hard on one of the hottest days of the year under extremely smoky conditions to put the fire out quickly,” Zanger said. “We appreciate their efforts to control this unfortunate fire.”
Farther west, Sam Jadav, manager of the Hollister Inn on San Felipe Road, said he received a couple of frustrated families Saturday night.
“They were complaining about the fire, but there’s nothing you can really do in that situation,” he said.
Gilroy firefighters spent Monday morning mopping up the remnants of the fire, which slightly injured two CalFire firefighters who were back at work Monday, a spokesman said. Gilroy also helped out by allowing Calfire to set up eight tents in Christmas Hill Park that will remain until Tuesday at the latest, Gilroy Spokesman Joe Kline said.
“It’s a real basic set-up to support the Pacheco Fire, but there haven’t been any disruptions to park operations,” Kline said Monday. Along with Calfire supervisors, prisoners who help crews fight fires, and their guards, also used the park.
A total of 36 engines, four fire crews, two dozers and four water tenders responded. The first personnel to respond to vehicle accident were a medic squad and a fire engine from the Pacheco Forest Fire Station, located about a mile up the road from the scene of the accident. Emergency personnel aided the driver, who was airlifted from the scene. Morgan said he did not know about the condition of the driver.
Free Lance reporter Colin McConville contributed to this report.
