Santa Cruz Mountains Wildfire Spreads During Night

A wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains has forced hundreds to evacuate after setting as many as 2,000 acres ablaze.

Ten-story tall flames from the wildfire doubled in size overnight, and by Tuesday morning, even after crews had rushed to the scene to contain the fire, the blaze was still only 5 percent contained, having reached as high as 100 feet at one point, The Mercury News reported.

Efforts to contain the fire included helicopters and planes dropping fire retardant along Loma Prieta ridge. Some 500 firefighters battled record-high temperatures due to the flames.

After dark, firefighters were “fighting fire in unfamiliar terrain with obviously dangers from the fire itself and the movement of the fire,” SJPD Captain Christopher Salcido said, ABC7 reported. “It definitely presents a considerable amount of danger to us, besides just that frightening aspect.”

Following its damage to the Santa Cruz Mountains, officials said the wildfire was headed toward Hecker Pass Road.

When Cal Fire spokesman George Hoyt spoke Tuesday, he said the fire was still spreading along Loma Chiquita and Loma Prieta roads. He also said that there were four helicopters and six air tankers attacking the fire from the air, Mercury News noted.

There have been no reported injuries and the cause of the fire has not yet been released to the public.

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