Sunol Little Fire explodes, evacuations ordered

Sunol Little Fire triggers evacuation orders

The Little Fire in Sunol, south of Pleasanton has rapidly exploded in size Tuesday afternoon. CAL FIRE and the Alameda County Fire Department are responding. There are evacuation orders and warnings currently in place.

SUNOL, Calif. - A vegetation fire in Sunol Valley prompted evacuation orders Tuesday as firefighters worked to contain the fast-moving blaze, authorities said.

Cal Fire SCU reported the Little Fire at about 2:54 p.m. near Little Valley Road and Hubbard Lane, south of Pleasanton.

Cal Fire and Alameda County Fire Department crews responded to the blaze. As many as 100 firefighters have responded, the agency said.

Firefighters face steep terrain

What we know:

Battalion Chief Raul Medina said firefighters were dealing with steep terrain and unpaved roads, making firefighting efforts more challenging.

However, he said air tankers were helping slow the fire's spread, and crews were making good progress.

As of late Tuesday evening, the fire had exploded to 1,007 acres, according to Cal Fire. Containment is at 10%, but crews were optimistic they were beginning to get a handle on the fire.

There were no immediate reports of damaged or destroyed structures. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Little Fire in Sunol jumps to 700 acres

The Little Fire in Sunol Valley grew rapidly to 700 acres Tuesday afternoon, prompting evacuation orders.

Firefighter injured

What they're saying:

Cal Fire said one of its fire engines overturned near Ruby Hills Drive while responding to the fire.

One firefighter was injured and taken to a local hospital, the agency said. The firefighter had been actively battling the blaze when the incident occurred.

Evacuation orders issued

What you can do:

A of late Tuesday night, local municipalities issued evacuation orders for zones PLS-080, PLS-081, and PLS-103, including the Ruby Hill neighborhood in Pleasanton. Hundreds of people have had to flee their homes. While this community has several large homes, there is also a golf course and several vineyards.

"Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW. The area is lawfully closed to public access," the evacuation order read. The evacuations are expected to remain in place through the evening, officials said.

Residents said the sheriff's office, along with local police went door to door asking people to get out.

By late Tuesday night, evacuation orders for zones ALC-072, PLS-079, PLS-080, and PLS-082 had been lifted.

A temporary shelter has been set up at the Pleasanton Senior Center at 5353 Sunol Boulevard in Pleasanton. If residents need additional emergency lodging, they can seek help through the Tri-Valley Program, Alameda County officials said.

A vegetation fire in Sunol spreads to 950 acres Tuesday, July 21.

What they're saying:

Marcus Hernandez, a unit chief with Cal Fire's Santa Clara Unit, said the golf course had bodies of water the department was able to make use of for their continuous drops on the fire.

He said residents can help make a difference by being prepared.

"Another key factor in the neighborhood you're in is the defensible space behind those residences helped our firefighters make that great stop with preparation by that neighborhood," he said.

Area neighbors we spoke with are appreciative of those firefighters' efforts.

"We saw the flames coming right behind my house," said Seema Chawla, HOA president of Ruby Hill. "We said, ‘Oh we really need to call the first responders,' so we called 9-1-1, and they came right away, and I can tell you, we cannot thank the first responders enough, they have battled this."

Another neighbor took matters into his own hands the best he could by preemptively spraying down his house and yard with water.

"I had the sprinklers on. Anything possible…tried to pull as much stuff away from our house that could combust, just tried to keep things damp, so that if there’s flying embers they don’t have a place to burn," said Jim Martin of Pleasanton.

Another neighbor was thinking of the pets.

"She’s got two German shepherds and two cats, and we’re ready to get them in the car and go somewhere if we need to. That’s what’s important," said Dave Buscheck of Pleasanton. "You know the biggest thing is people surviving, everything else is replaceable, you know."

People who did head to the evacuation center said they were optimistic that their homes are safe. Many of them said they've lived in their homes for decades.

Julie Deane said she scrambled to pack necessities while helping her 84-year-old mother evacuate from their Pleasanton home. She said she got the alert to clear out from an app on her phone.

"It was loud. ‘Evacuate...you have to evacuate.' It was loud. it was a little bit scary," she said.

Deane said she got her mom and another elderly neighbor who has mobility issues out of their homes. Deane and her mother said fire destroyed their vacation home near Placerville a few years ago.

Cheryl, another area resident who did not give her last name, was at work when she found out neighbors were evacuating. She came home to smoke on the hill.

Pleasanton's mayor ensured residents the temporary shelter is comfortable and safe.

"We offer air conditioning, a safe place. We have water, food, shelter in terms of a bed. We'll be here as long as it takes to provide for our residents," said Mayor Jack Balch.

Many at the center told us they planned to stay at the center or with family and friends if they're not allowed back in their homes.

Weather outlook

Dig deeper:

The fire ignited as a National Weather Service heat advisory remained in effect across the Bay Area through 9 p.m. Tuesday, with inland temperatures expected to reach the mid-90s to low 100s.

KTVU meteorologist Rosemary Orozco said the vegetation along the Sunol ridgeline, where the Little Fire is burning, is very dry.

"When the grass and vegetation is already dry and preheated, it really just allows that fire to ignite and burn faster," she said.

She added that afternoon winds typically increase in the area, which could complicate firefighting efforts and contribute to the fire's spread.

The Bay Area Air District, which measures air quality, said smoke will impact the East Bay. Residents in affected areas should stay alert by monitoring news coverage and public health advisories and warnings. You can monitor air quality at the AirNow website. However, the air district said a Spare the Air alert is not in effect and pollution levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard.