Lockheed fire, Santa Cruz, CA. Anyone?

[uppityperson]

I have friends who have been evacuated. This fire is quite large, and there is a south (dry) wind blowing. Last time there was a fire in this particular area was 1948, and this one is bigger. So far the 30% contained part is the northern edge where the fire started.

I know we have DUers in that area, wondering if they are ok, if anyone has news. My friends drove out several loads of business stuff, are waiting to see what happens and how much insurance will cover. They say this is very very very scary.

Best wishes to all there.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_13121654

As of this morning the Lockheed Fire has burned 6,800 acres and is 30 percent contained. The winds have died down this morning and crews continue to make progress, Cal Fire reported Saturday morning. Weather remains a concern. Swirling winds, dropping humidity and higher temperatures expected over the weekend could a witches brew when mixed with the roaring flames that had consumed 6,800 acres in two days.

"It's definitely not going to help the fire effort," said Larry Smith, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Monterey. "Drier and windier is not going to be a good thing for the fire crews." Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to arrive at the fire command post a the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville at 10 a.m. today to get an assessment of the damage and learn about firefighting efforts around the state.

Evacuations affecting as many as 2,400 people remain in affect for Bonny Doon and Swanton. Cal Fire is reporting that only two outbuildings have been damaged by the blaze, which is the largest in the county in at least 20 years.

There are more than 1,500 firefighters assigned to the fire. Cal Fire estimates the blaze has cost $2.6 million to fight so far....

Link to map:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=105696384488843695639.000470fe4ab115730c32c&ll=37.075998,-122.201614&spn=0.301307,0.377655&z=11&source=embed

[NYC_SKP]

1. Tweets from the last 30 minutes:

Real-time results for lockheed

MFF999 Despite Lockheed fire, legendary logging family stays put http://bit.ly/4V3YP
5 minutes ago from twitterfeed

s_a_news Lockheed fire grows to 6,800 acres http://sa8.us/mzHy0
5 minutes ago from beta.snsanalytics

s_a_news Lockheed fire grows to 6,800 acres http://sa8.us/mzHy1
5 minutes ago from beta.snsanalytics

pastelpalate Trying to locate my family. Evacuated Lockheed fire Thurs. Will this help me?
9 minutes ago from web

BarrieNJ RT @LastChanceCT: RT @winecountrydog If you need help evacuating animals, call Santa Cruz Animal Srvcs 831-454-7303 Lockheed/Bonny Doon fire
11 minutes ago from twhirl

Jeffpfile RT @ENeitzel: RT @ksbw: Get continuing coverage, including updates, videos & slideshows on the Lockheed Fire at KSBW.com http://bit.ly/3fgDZ
19 minutes ago from TweetDeck

bfadra3 Bonny Doon (Lockheed) smoke is clearing on Robson.......taking off my mask
22 minutes ago from web

ksbw Images: Lockheed Fire Rages On Saturday http://bit.ly/7dRpO
24 minutes ago from twitterfeed

gregwoodhouse The #lockheed #fire as of last night (video) http://bit.ly/mF4RA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[uppityperson]

2. Thank you. So far it has been where there are few houses, but this is the telling...

"The steep, rugged terrain and dense vegetation has made it difficult to contain the blaze, so firefighters are focused on keeping flames away from homes, said Jim Stunkel, a battalion chief from San Jose."

I appreciate the reply and links. I don't tweet, appreciate this

[NYC_SKP]

4. "Trying to locate my family. Evacuated Lockheed fire Thurs. Will this help me?"

That Tweet was pretty moving.

I'm 90 minutes away and know that area well.

It's easy to picture someone using Twitter on their cell phone, getting messages out in real time to perfect strangers but also potentially getting very useful information not available so readily through any other medium.

I like Twitter, one just needs to know how to use the search function well, like Google.

I searched for "Lockheed", "fire" would have been too vague and too many cities and towns are involved to get good results with "Santa Cruz", for example.

:patriot:

[uppityperson]

5. We've been reading sentinel and san jose news, seeing what DU can come through

with also. I heard there is a DUer who evac'ed, can't remember who though. Last time there was a fire there (last yr?) was talking with someone local here.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. Take care! Southern CA here.

[rudyb]

6. Sat. 2 miles uphill from the fire line

Hi I'm about +/- 2 miles uphill from the fire line on Bonny Doon Rd.
It's really smokey and the temp is at 80. There is a light easterly breeze(bad! for us).
The last 3 nights there has been a fire strike team=5 trucks and staff for each, hunkered down around this location waiting to put there skills to the test to protect us and the houses here on this section of Bonny Doon Rd.
Weds night we were out on the lawn having dinner and we talked about last years Martin fire and how lucky we were. There was a comment about the fog that was rolling up hill toward us and how it looked smoke tinged!
Thurs we spent most of the day preparing the property to defend it. We feel pretty confident that we can defend this place.
A fire team pulled onto the property to check us out, they ended up staying the night here. They were a real goodhearted group from Novato CA. Last night the same thing happened except the crew was from Moraga CA.
Today we saw a strike team roll by from the Lake Tahoe area.
Well I chant for the wind reverse direction!!

[uppityperson]

8. Welcome to DU and best of luck to you.

Friends live right by Martin fire beginning, but are concerned about this one due to its size and northerly wind. Ever see weathervanes?

Good luck to you and remember that property can be replaced. (yes mom).

[Ardent15]

7. In the South Bay Area here

Can see smoke and haze from where I am.

[jannyk]

9. We have friends evacuated from Bonnie Doon staying with

us in the East Bay right now. They are a bundle of jangling nerves - but safe and they have their pets with them.