At approximately 4:45 p.m. Thursday, CalFire responded to what became an 80-acre grass fire just east of Casa de Fruta. Initial reports said structures were threatended but there were no immediate reports of damage or loss.
Traffic along Hwy. 152 was stopped at the Casa de Fruta parkway along the well-travelled route between the Santa Clara Valley and the Central Valley. CalFire fire fighting planes were dispatched from the nearby Hollister Air Attack Base to help battle the blaze.
The Mercury News reported at 5 p.m. that the California Highway Patrol was considering shutting down the highway completely while crews battled the blaze. CalFire reported just before 5:30 that forward progress of the blaze had been stopped while CHP said the potential reopening of Hwy. 152 was a couple hours away. By 10:30 p.m., the fire was 50 percent contained and Hwy. 152 was open to one-way traffic.