Wildfire of 2002 started on estate's grounds Wildfire of 2002 started on estate's grounds (March 17, 2004)

It wasn't a garden party or a Hollywood movie that brought camera crews out to the Fleishhacker estate in August 2002, but a six-alarm wildfire that scorched 10 acres of central Woodside. The blaze started near Delia Erlich's house on the Fleishhacker estate, but quickly jumped to neighboring properties across the street.

A guest house and a historic water tower fell victim to the flames, and sparks caused a roof fire that seriously damaged a house. No one was seriously injured in the fire.

A eucalyptus tree branch that fell on a power line was blamed for sparking the blaze, and for months afterward, town officials fielded complaints about the Fleishhacker estate's overgrown trees.

Although the days of the great estates, with their manicured grounds and many gardeners, are long past, the estate is in compliance with fire-prevention regulations, according to Woodside fire Chief Mike Fuge.

Since the fire, the Fleishhacker family has been working with PG&E on a program to clear trees growing near the power lines.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.