Fast-moving California Wildfire destroys many homes
Pastor Dale Morgan
Fast-moving California Wildfire destroys many homes*
* Story Highlights
* NEW: At least 50 homes were being threatened, California fire
officials say
* Aggressive wildfire burning in Northern California's Santa Cruz
Mountains
* Local TV stations showing video footage of homes fully engulfed
* Wildfire in Santa Clara County, moving toward Santa Cruz County
(CNN) -- An aggressive wildfire in Northern California's Santa Cruz
Mountains had burned 2,000 acres Thursday, prompting rescues and
evacuations in two counties, the California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection said.
A wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains is causing mandatory evacuations
for neighboring homes.
Ten structures were destroyed, agency spokesman Herman Dekruyff said.
At least 50 homes were being threatened, according to California fire
officials. About 200 children at a 4-H Club camp were asked to take
immediate shelter there.
The Summit Fire began around 5:30 a.m. PT (8:30 a.m. ET) Thursday near
Mount Madonna County Park in Santa Clara County.
The wildfire, fanned by high winds and fueled by dry brush and trees,
was moving toward Santa Cruz County, south of San Francisco.
Five fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters were conducting water
drops on the fire, fanned by sustained winds of 15 mph to 20 mph with
gusts up to 40 mph.
Officials ordered a so-called Supertanker, a jumbo jet modified to
battle fires from the air.
State fire officials said at least 149 firefighters but likely many more
were battling the blaze. Strike teams from across Northern California
were being mobilized.
Aerial video footage from local TV station helicopters showed structures
and vehicles fully engulfed.
Notorious for their rugged terrain, the Santa Cruz Mountains are dotted
with multimillion dollar homes.
The Santa Clara and Santa Cruz sheriff's offices were handling
evacuations, though the number of those affected was not immediately known.
A Red Cross evacuation center was established at the Santa Cruz County
Fairgrounds, said Officer Dinah Phillips, a spokeswoman for the Santa
Cruz County Sheriff's Office.