Loma Fire Over 50% Contained

Overnight, the Loma Fire remained moderate while firefighters continued to build and reinforce containment lines around the fire perimeter, reaching 56 percent containment. Islands of unburned dry vegetation within the fire perimeter have the potential to burn because of rolling material on steep terrain. Accessibility to the fire is hampered by narrow and congested roads. Weather forecasts are calling for North to Northwest winds to continue, temperatures in the upper 60’s, and relative humidity between 40-50 percent.

As of Noon Oct. 1, 12 residents in the path of the fire have been destroyed, along with 16 other buildings, while one other residence was damaged, but is still intact. 4,345 acres in total have burned.

The following road closures are still in effect: Loma Chiquita Road 1 mile east of Highland Way, Summit Road at Ormsby Cutoff, Casa Loma and McKean Road. As of 12 PM – October 1, Croy Road is open to residents only.

Please do not bring donations to the CAL FIRE Loma Fire Base Camp. While greatly appreciated, the camp is well supplied and self-sufficient. The Red Cross does not have the facilities to accept food or goods, but can accept monetary donations: www.redcross.org/donate/donation Loma Fire food or goods donations can be delivered to the following locations:

• Salvation Army of Gilroy: Address: 6701 Camino Arroyo, Gilroy, CA 95020, Phone: (408) 842-3991 ~ Accepting in-kind donations of clothing, household goods and toys.
• Salvation Army of Santa Cruz: Address: 812 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, Phone: (831) 429-8118 ~ Accepting in-kind donations of clothing, bedding, materials, as well as any food donations.
• Second Harvest Food Bank: Address: 800 Ohlone Pkwy, Watsonville, CA 95076, Phone: (831) 722-7110 ~ Accepting any bulk food donations or smaller items.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Report from www.fire.ca.gov