Dry grass spread a late-afternoon fire from the edge of Interstate 280 up toward Arboretum Drive in Los Altos last week, but responders halted the blaze before it reached the homes and eucalyptus trees at the top of the hill.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department used trucks and a helicopter to contain the vegetation fire near Foothill Expressway June 15. Firefighters dropped water on the commute-hour blaze from the air with assistance from a CalFire helicopter that made several passes.
CalFire officials also mobilized a fixed-wing plane that can drop chemical fire suppressants but did not use it. The fire climbed two grassy acres along the freeway and got within 6 feet of the fence line of multiple homes, according to Battalion Chief Jason Falarski, who served as incident commander.
He said the cause of the blaze is under investigation; initially there were no hints as to how the fire started. Two lanes of 280 closed for approximately two hours as firefighters combated the blaze into the evening.
In addition to the air support, a total of eight engines responded to the brush fire and used hoses and hand tools to fight it and remove potential fuel from its path.
“One of our main concerns was eucalyptus trees spreading into the structures,” Falarski said. “We were able to contain it quickly.”
Foothill/280 Fire: Video of helicopter dropping water in @CityofLosAltos. #CalFire #CountyFire pic.twitter.com/DWRExfQ2n2
— Santa Clara Co Fire (@sccfiredept) June 16, 2015
