Gilroy - CalFire investigators are interviewing the person who admitted to accidentally sparking the nearly-30,000-acre Lick Fire now ablaze in Henry Coe State Park, spokesmen said. The fire originated from an illegal burn barrel, CalFire staff discovered earlier this week.
The unidentified person could end up footing the estimated $3.3 million bill for fighting the massive fire, which has consumed one outbuilding and caused four firefighter injuries but stayed far from residential areas Friday.
CalFire representatives declined to identify the person involved, but described him or her as cooperative.
Friday morning, the fire had spread to 27,640 acres, and was 35 percent contained. The blaze burned southward Thursday night, passing an intended burn line at Kaiser-Aetna Road. But crews were optimistic: The east and west edges of the blaze were well-secured Friday morning. To the north and south, firefighters were burning swaths of land ahead of the fire, to starve it of fuel.
"It's too early to say realistically" when the fire might be controlled, said CalFire spokesman John Amos, "but it's looking good ... There's room for optimism at this point."
NASA pitched in as well, sending an unmanned airplane with thermal imaging over the fire Friday night to map out hot spots, flames and varying temperatures from above. The Ikhana airplane transmits aerial photos in real time via the Web to the fire's command center in Christmas Hill Park, helping commanders plan their attacks.
Cooling temperatures and rising humidity worked to firefighters' advantage Friday. But the battle isn't over yet, supervisors warned. Spot fires, which spark from the main fire, then travel over fire lines, were considered likely. Twenty-five residences - seasonal cabins and rangers' homes - and 10 outbuildings were threatened Friday.
"Now is not the time to let your guard down," said CalFire Capt. Rob vanWormer, addressing hundreds of firefighters at a daybreak briefing Friday in Christmas Hill Park. "We don't want to have another party next week."
Emily Alpert Emily Alpert covers public safety issues for the Gilroy Dispatch. She can be reached at 408-847-7158, or at ealpert@gilroydispatch.com.
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