Fast-moving Northern California wildfire destroys homes

MORGAN HILL, Calif. A wildfire in a mostly remote area of Northern California’s Santa Cruz Mountainshas now destroyed eight homes and sent a firefighter to the hospital, officials said Thursday.

One firefighter was injured and hospitalized, but no details were given on his condition.

The blaze burning for three days had previously only burned one home. It’s not clear whether the destruction of seven more houses is new or just newly discovered by firefighters surveying burned-out areas.

Despite the damage, cooler weather and additional firefighters had officials hopeful Thursday that the blaze would be contained in days.

Full containment was expected by Monday, though wind gusts of up to 35 mph forecast for Friday night could complicate the firefight, state fire Capt. Mike Perez said. The fire has burned 6½ square miles and was threatening 325 structures. It was 34 percent contained.

Mandatory evacuations were lifted Wednesday for Santa Cruz County. But evacuation orders remained in effect for neighboring Santa Clara County, where most of the 300 threatened structures are located, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

The blaze broke out Monday during a statewide heat wave that brought witheringly low humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s. A 10-degree drop in temperatures and increased humidity helped fire crews. The cooling trend was expected to last through the week.

It was among several blazes burning during a time of year when the drought-stricken state sees its largest and most damaging wildfires, state forestry officials said.

The wildfire in steep terrain south of San Jose was 34 percent contained by Thursday evening, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeremy Rahn said, CBS San Francisco reported.

The blaze broke out Monday during a statewide heat wave that brought witheringly low humidity and temperatures in the upper 90s. A 10-degree drop in temperatures and increased humidity helped fire crews. The cooling trend was expected to last through the week.

The blaze won’t be fully contained before next week, officials estimated.

It was among several blazes burning during a time of year when the drought-stricken state sees its largest and most damaging wildfires, state forestry officials said.

Aside from the eight homes, fire officials said nine other structures were destroyed. Among the 325 structures threatened, it was not clear how many were homes or other structures.

The area is dotted with marijuana growing operations, though the number of plants at risk is unclear. When Anthony Lopez returned to check on his home, which was still under an evacuation order, he was overjoyed to find dozens of his marijuana plants intact Tuesday.

Though the vast majority of California’s marijuana is planted north of San Francisco, growers still find remote, densely forested land popular places to cultivate pot.

This summer, firefighters in nearby Monterey County rescued several pot farmers trapped for three days by a fast-moving wildfire. The growers said 900 plants were destroyed. No arrests were made after police said the evidence went up in smoke.

North of San Francisco, officials said a grass fire that spread from the side of a highway into a row of homes in Petaluma may have been started by a discarded cigarette. Four homes were destroyed and 10 were damaged.