Days of moist, cool weather helped firefighters get a handle on
a destructive wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains that had
scorched 3,900 acres and at least 29 homes.
Videos of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger commending firefighters,
firefighters battling the blaze, an aerial tour of the fire and
Summit Road residents commenting about the approaching fire, a
Days of moist, cool weather helped firefighters get a handle on a destructive wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains that had scorched 3,900 acres and at least 29 homes.
Easing winds and lower temperatures helped keep the blaze from spreading and fire crews now have the blaze 60 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention.
“It’s really not moving at all,” said David Coursey, a department spokesman.
The fire was expected to be fully surrounded by Tuesday, fire officials said. The blaze still threatened 550 homes and 20 commercial buildings.
While some evacuees were being let in on an hour-by-hour basis to survey the damage, hundreds of residents remained under evacuation orders following the outbreak of the fire in the mountainous region about 15 miles south of San Jose.
Five firefighters have suffered minor injuries.
In a community meeting at a church Sunday afternoon, residents eager to sleep in their own beds Sunday were given bad news. Officials said a quick turn in weather could re-ignite the blaze, and that they would have to wait until Tuesday to return home.
Meanwhile, nearly 3,000 personnel worked to cut fire lines through centuries-old redwood forests as a swarm of helicopters and air tankers doused flames from the sky.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties to allow access to state funds. The firefighting effort has cost $6.1 million so far, Coursey said.
Smoke from the wildfire has left a haze over the San Francisco Bay area that was expected to linger through the Memorial Day weekend.
Investigators are still probing the cause of the fire, which broke out just as the state’s unofficial fire season got under way in mid-May. The blaze erupted following the state’s driest two-month period on record.
To purchase any of our videos contact Online Editor Christopher Quirk at (408) 847-7240.
In this video, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger commends firefighters on their efforts.
In this video, Schwarzenegger is briefed on the fire.
In this video, we take you on an aerial tour of the fire.
In this video, firefighters battle the blaze and CalFire staff give updated statistics on the Summit Fire.
In this video, Summit Road residents Mark and Nancy Hildebrand describe what it is like to be in a house near the fire.
