Early morning fire burns home on Glenwood.

A small home located at 24235 Glenwood Drive burned early this morning. The fire was first called in as being on Old Santa Cruz Highway and the first engines were dispatched. A second and third call came in identifying the fire as originating on Glenwood. Time was lost when those engines were re-diverted to the Glenwood address. The first report came in at 4:57am, and the final call came in at 5:07 identifying the Glenwood location as being between Main Blvd and Crooks Rd. Engines were on scene at 5:23am and the fire was knocked down by 6:08. Engines will remain at the location for several hours after to ensure that the fire is out.

Cal Fire Captain, David Hibdon, “It is important to take a moment and get your bearings when you call in a fire. The first reports are often inaccurate and we have sent personnel to the first callers location to shoot a line to the fire and pinpoint it’s location. We lost time this morning because the first caller placed the fire on Old Santa Highway and we had to re-divert them to Glenwood after we got better information on the location.”

Cal Fire had a Cal Fire Prevention Officer at the scene, their Battalion Chief, one engine and they were assisted by Scotts Valley Fire’s engine and the Loma Prieta volunteer Fire Dept which arrived with one water tender. Felton Fire Protection District was on site with a water tender as well. A total of three engines, two water tenders and 15 personnel fought the fire and brought it under control.

A locked gate delayed entry into the area to fight the fire. If you have a locked gate, you can get a special lock that the Fire Dept can open rapidly, saving time and possibly lives. This lock is keyed specifically so that your first responders only can open it in case of a fire. It is not a universal key.

The fire lit up the hillsides and at first glance (from my home) it appeared that someone had orange twinkling Christmas lights displayed on their gate. After grabbing my glasses I realized the twinkling was a small fire on the hillside. I immediately called it in and watched in panic as it grew and consumed the house and began burning the trees around it. The sound of the tress cracking could be heard across the canyon.

I alerted several neighbors and was contacted by one of my neighbors in spite of the early hour. Several neighbors went to the scene and spoke to firefighters and confirmed that they would be able to contain it and we did not need to evacuate the area. As the firefighters worked to contain the fire, there was a sudden sound of coyotes yipping and warning each other of the blaze. I’ve never heard anything like it before. It almost sounded like a crowd cheering, and it took a moment to realize it was actually the coyotes sounding their own alarm.

If you don’t have your neighbor’s phone number, you may wish to get it. Although quite a few of us were up very early because of the fire it is better to be prepared and ready to evacuate than sound asleep.

Connie Guerrero, Communications Officer said it is common for people to see a fire or other emergency and to assume that others have called it in. It is important to call in fires or other emergencies as soon as you see them. Also, in case of a fire, please alert your neighbors as the Fire Fighters on the scene are there to fight the fire and do not have the resources to alert neighbors. It is really important to look out for each other.

Fire contained.

Also, if you have a cell phone, please put the 7 digit 911 equivalent number into your cell to save time in an emergency. For Sata Cruz County Fire that number is 831-335-9113. Additional information to help you prepare is in this article: Are You Prepared?