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Agencies unite against mountain blaze
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Bay Area (Map, News) - Dozens of firefighters from San Francisco and San Mateo counties count among the nearly 2,900 who are still fighting the Summit fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Within a few hours of the fire being reported early Thursday morning, three strike teams with firefighters from 15 fire departments in San Mateo County and another strike team from San Francisco joined in the battle.
Since then, the teams have been assigned the duty of protecting structures in case the fire goes their direction, San Mateo Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Borean said.
The fire, located about 30 miles south of Gilroy, had burned more than 3,900 acres, destroyed nearly 29 homes and cost about $6.1 million by Sunday morning, Cal Fire spokeswoman Becky Bamberger said. At that time, it was 50 percent contained with full containment expected as early as Tuesday night.
About 550 homes and 20 commercial buildings remained threatened as of Sunday, and Borean said it was these that firefighters from San Mateo County were protecting. The firefighters were not on the “front line” of the forest fire because the engines sent from the departments lacked four-wheel drive and other capabilities necessary to fight a fire in the middle of the woods, he said.
Though the firefighters he had recently spoken to said they hadn’t fought any blazes yet, structure protection has the potential to get exciting at times, Borean said. Last year, strike teams went to San Diego to fight the fires that swept through the city in October and played a crucial role in saving homes.
“One night, there were six houses that would have burnt down for the action of the 20 guys on my team,” Borean said. “It’s really rewarding to walk away from that and say, ‘Hey, we made a difference today.’”
Lt. Ken Smith of the San Francisco Fire Department said Bay Area residents should consider the Summit Fire a “wakeup call.”
“The Bay Area is relaxed because we haven’t had a major fire in a while,” he said. “But this should remind folks to cut [vegetation] back 100 feet from their homes [if they live near a wooded area] and don’t wait until the last minute to think about the things you want to take if you evacuate.”
Bay City News contributed to this report.
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:42 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Fire could summon 14th-century fear"
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12:16 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008
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12:41 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008
re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"
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10:06 PM MST on Tue., May. 20, 2008
re: "Residents find their apartment complex garage up in smoke"
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12:14 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008
re: "Firefighters uncover marijuana at Mission district fire"
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8:11 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008
re: "Fire spreads through Mission apartments"
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7:22 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 17, 2008
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10:08 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008
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10:53 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007
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6:33 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007
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12:18 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 29, 2007
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3:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
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7:05 AM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
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7:17 AM MST on Tue., May. 8, 2007
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Albert Franklin said:
75,000,000 died during the Black Plague starting with 1354! What percent of this were European Christians? How does this play with America's and West Indian's Christians who were also exterminated because of their Christianity? What dreaded diseases brought them down from San Francisco to Gilroy and who is responsible other than France? If October 31 marks "All Saints Day" in Europe, why do we call Mexico's "Days of the Dead," not "All Saints Day" when it begins on the following day: 1, 2, and 3 November?
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This story reveals yet more fear mongering propagated by the media. The real story here is not the possibility of a plague, but the desperation of an Examiner reporter looking to scoop a story. Give me a break.
6 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
he should have let it burn ... only section 8 drug dealers and illegal aliens lived in the apartment
451 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
that's too bad. wish him the best of luck
7 agree | 6 disagree
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Seven said:
In the Mission, the surprise would be if they DIDN'T find marijuana.
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I live just one block from the Valencia fire i would like to give massive credit to the SFFD for the way they handled this fire.. Way to go guys and gals...
15 agree | 8 disagree
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Eddie House said:
I would like to know why the police & fire department refused to investigate and take action against the tenants that discarded cigarettes onto my boat cover, on the dry grass area around my stack of firewood. On two occasions I found burned wood laminate strips placed on my deck and dry grass near the boat. But most of all want to know why after 12 or more false calls of burning trash “ and the city knows damn well they were FALSE CALLS as they broke into my home only to find firewood in the EPA woodstove” WHY DID YOU CONTINUE TO HARRASS ME ? AND NOT TAKE ACTION ON THE TENANTS THAT MADE THESE FALSE CALLS OF TRASH BEING BURNED?
490 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
When your being evicted from your apartment, you go out with a blaze of glory ? Or just another attempt to set fire to his boat that went all to wrong ? No cleaning or security depost refund for you ! But you are entitled to free room & board at the county jail !.
272 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I better watch out! I'll try not to cry... When Santa Claus comes to town I'll be wearing a frown when reporters get wind that; Citizens "took" gifts...instead of ; Citizens "received" gifts... Geeze!
178 agree | 186 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Very interesting and informative article. In Nashville Tn group home providers with less than 8 clients with disabilities are now required to have sprinkler system and many will close due to a lack funds. Who can I contact to get assistance? Perrion Gordon
193 agree | 195 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i am allans daughter kaitlyn and i just wanted to say that he will be forever missed and that he loved doing wat he was i never loved any one theway a daughter loves a father. love, kaitlyn roberts
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Examiner Reader said:
Who cares?
359 agree | 362 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is this a story? It was $1,200 and the city reviewed and approved. Sounds like someone is trying to make something out of nothing. Shame on you.
505 agree | 361 disagree
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Precious Jenkins said:
i am one of the nieces of the decreased and the cousin of the mother. this is and was a terrible fire that took 5 members of our family. annette was my father's youngest sister and one of my godmother. my father just had lost a sister 1 year and 4 days before. and now he only have one sister. this fire made our family feel that life to short to be walking around and not talking and loving your family members. a family that prays together says together!!!
767 agree | 396 disagree
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