Dozens of families have fled their homes to escape a 600-acre wildfire in Summit area of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Some 100 homes were lost in the same area in May of last year.
Dozens of families have fled their homes to escape a 600-acre wildfire in Summit area of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Some 100 homes were lost in the same area in May of last year.
The fire department is still investigating the cause of the blaze, which erupted at about 3am Sunday. The area was drenched by the storm two weeks ago, but Alex Leman of the Loma Prieta Fire Department explained that the inner core of the wood remained dry, making the area vulnerable. The fire spread quickly because of 40 mph winds in the area on Sunday.
Over 1,200 firefighters have helped to control the blaze, which was 20 percent contained by last night. Temporary headquarters to coordinate the effort were set up in the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. Read more at ABC 7 and the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
