Yesterday was the longest day of the year and it was especially long if you lived in the Emerald Hills section of Redwood City or the surrounding parts of Woodside. In addition to the County text alert, I got a couple of texts from friends who were under evacuation orders that didn't last too long, but according to the DJ piece, the fire was not contained last night:
The seven-alarm Edgewood Fire in the hills of San Mateo County is at 25 acres and was not contained as of Tuesday evening, according to a spokesperson for Cal Fire. There was one injury to a firefighter and no structures were damaged. A Pacific Gas and Electric substation was threatened and had units on it to ensure fire stayed away from it, Cal Fire CZU Deputy Chief Jonathan Cox said. Large swaths of San Mateo County were out of power due to a downed PG&E transmission line, the utility said.
I've been worrying about this for sometime as I learn more about woodland management from my experience in Tahoe. As a member of an HOA in Tahoe, we have put a good amount of time, effort and money into carving out a buffer zone. Then I drive up Chateau Dr. or Black Mountain Rd in H'borough and I wonder what the Town of H'Borough is doing about all that fuel laying around on the ground. It's pretty much everywhere you look. Are we just one lightning strike or foolish act (or crazy arsonist) away from a real problem here "down the hill"? It sure feels like it.
Download Emerald Hills fire_062122
This is a bit of video from the television coverage of the fire last night. We will see if the link works.
Very Good point.
I have never thought about Hillsborough.
I have two friends who lost their homes in the Oakland fire.
The landscape and distance between homes is EXACTLY like the Oakland Fire.
I hope the Hillsborough Fire Dept. is prepared.
Posted by: [email protected] | June 24, 2022 at 09:24 PM
I doubt they have enough manpower even with aid from Central County.
Posted by: resident | June 25, 2022 at 03:55 PM
They would have to do a lot of work just to get to a basic level of fire safety and I never see any work happening. They are doing a bunch of sewer and road work but nothing about trees or the stuff on the ground that spread fires rapidly.
Posted by: Mom | June 25, 2022 at 08:31 PM
CalFire getting a jump on things:
SMC Alert: On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, weather permitting, CAL FIRE CZU will conduct a prescribed burn on an estimated 20 acres near Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir in San Mateo County to reduce fuel and lower the risk of a larger fire. This is a one-day burn. Smoke may be visible in Woodside, Belmont, Burlingame, Emerald Hills, San Carlos Hills, and parts of I-280 in San Mateo County. There will be extensive fire equipment and a helicopter on scene. There is no need to call 911.
Posted by: Joe | October 03, 2022 at 12:43 PM