Explosive wildfire burning in Santa Cruz Mountains destroys 7 structures
A wildfire fueled by drought-stressed brush has charred 2,250 acres, destroyed seven structures and prompted residents to flee their homes in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Jose.
Flames from the Loma fire have consumed a home and six outbuildings and damaged at least one other house since it started Monday afternoon near Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads, 10 miles northwest of Morgan Hill, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The blaze is about 10% contained.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated from canyon and hillside neighborhoods as fast-moving flames threatened at least 300 structures. Evacuation centers at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church and Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley welcomed residents and some even took large farm animals.
More than 1,000 firefighters from across the state were “aggressively fighting” the fire as flames spread into the steep, rural mountains of Loma Prieta, Mount Chual and Uvas Creek drainages, Cal Fire said.
Fire officials said the area hasn’t seen a major blaze in about 15 years.
Warm weather combined with windy conditions have contributed to an active wildfire season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. California experienced its warmest summer on record this year, NOAA said. Drought and bark beetle infestations have killed 66 million trees statewide since 2010.
“Early this summer, fuels in [California] were showing dryness usually observed in October,” NOAA said in a drought report released Wednesday. “In 2016, California has had more fires and more acres burned than in each of the previous five years.”
But the National Weather Service in San Francisco said firefighters could get relief from the heat later this week.
By Sunday, rain is forecast to return and possibly stick around for seven days.
For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.
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