California heat wave intensifies wildfire threatening homes

A hot tub rests in front of a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, California. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. AP

MORGAN HILL, California, United States — A grass fire along a Northern California highway spread to parched trees, and flying embers landed on nearby homes, setting at least eight homes on fire, authorities said.

The fire started on vegetation and quickly spread to a row of Eucalyptus trees lining Highway 101 in Petaluma, California, Petaluma fire Battalion Chief Jeff Holden said.

The flames apparently damaged gas service valves on multiple homes, and “flames shot like a torch in the attic,” Holden told the Press Democrat.

At least two homes were gutted, but authorities had yet to assess the extent of the damage on the other six homes.

A heat wave baking drought-stricken California worsened a wildfire Tuesday that burned two buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains.

One remote area where the fire burned is 30 minutes up a winding dirt road. Another is dotted with large-scale marijuana growing operations. A main route along the ridgetop is not accessible, even to firefighters, because of downed utility lines.

Flames lit up the mountainside above a roller coaster at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and a residence was reduced to rubble, though its hot tub still stood. The fire consumed a large home sitting on a hilltop plot and poured out thick, black smoke, while another house sat unscathed below.

The blaze broke out Monday during a statewide heat wave, and crews prepared for another day of witheringly low humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s.

The heat baked even coastal cities that normally benefit from the Pacific Ocean’s cooling effect. But the high temperatures were expected to start easing Tuesday.

“This fire is a good reminder that even though we are approaching October, this time of year is historically when we experience the largest and most damaging wildfires,” Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

It threatened 300 buildings, though it’s not clear if they were homes or smaller structures. The fire, which was partially under control, also burned close to television and radio towers. No injuries were reported.

Anthony Lopez returned to his home, which is still under evacuation orders, Tuesday. He was overjoyed to find his dozens of marijuana plants standing and his 1972 Buick Skylark uncharred.

Doreenann Bellamy packed her dog, photo albums and firearms into her pickup truck as she and her husband left their home.

“Everyone on the mountain has guns, and you’ve got to grab your guns first,” she told The Mercury News in San Jose (https://bayareane.ws/2cH4hpE ).

Danielle Mays anxiously waited for a neighbor to bring her Boston terrier, Layla, and her cat, Callie.

“That’s it; that’s what matters,” Mays told the newspaper Monday. “I have fire insurance for the rest.”

To the north, crews gained control over a 2-square-mile fire that briefly threatened homes and The Geysers geothermal complex, a massive power producing facility.

Evacuations and road closure orders were lifted after firefighters got the blaze more than halfway contained, Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean said.

“It’s looking very good, but we still need to make sure smoke and small fires inside the perimeter are taken care of,” he said. CBB