Between 1119 and 1125 hours the situation became even worse:
- Division A (BC4) reported that the fire was spreading rapidly
uphill on the west (left) flank and that he would be moving
up to Marlborough Terrace to try to protect homes at the top
of the hill.
- The Incident Commander reported that the smoke was so
heavy coming down the canyon that he could not see where
the fire was or which way it was moving from the Command
Post at the bottom of the hill.
- The fire was spreading south and east on the right flank
toward a cluster of homes on Grizzly Peak Terrace. Engine
6 and Truck 15 were assigned to try to protect that exposure.
- The Operations Officer reported the need for an additional
Command Officer at the top of the hill to cover the right
flank. None was available.
- Engine 19 reported that the fire spread on the left flank was
lateral, toward the homes on Norfolk Drive.
- Division A reported that he had at least one structure
involved, and the fire was “going to jump Buckingham any
minute.”
The Incident Commander called for the 5th and 6th Alarms at 1120
hours. The Operations Officer requested the 6th Alarm companies to
respond to Bay Forest Drive and Tunnel Road, directly above the entrance
to the Caldecott Tunnel, where a group of homes were directly in the path
of the flames advancing on the right flank He added a request for five
mutual aid engine companies to respond up the back side of the hills to
stage at Fish Ranch Road and Grizzly Peak Blvd.
By 1130 hours the fire was moving so fast on the left flank that
companies were abandoning their offensive positions and retreating in
search of safe areas to protect structures or to make a stand. Several
houses were burning on Buckingham and Westmoorland, and the homes on
Marlborough Terrace were in imminent danger as the fire continued to
spread west along the face of the canyon and up the slope.
At 1133 hours, Division A radioed “probably can’t hold -- it’s coming
over -- we are abandoning task!” The Operations Officer replied with a
warning to be extremely careful: “Don’t get anybody killed!” Two minutes
later Division A radioed “We’re evacuating Buckingham. The fire went
over both sides of us!”
Next » Totally Out of Control
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