A fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains has charred 4,100 acres and has damaged two structures, a Cal Fire spokesman said this morning (Friday).

The Lockheed Fire is 5 percent contained. Cal Fire did not have immediate information on what type of structures were burned.

Fire crews Thursday continued to battle the raging, wind-driven fire forced the evacuation of up to 2,200 residents, fire officials said.

Hundreds of firefighters battled windy conditions to attack the blaze, dubbed the Lockheed Fire because of its proximity to the Lockheed Martin Space Systems complex, which was being used as an assembly point for heavy equipment, according to Cal Fire Engineer Mike Mohler.

News reports said eight water-dropping helicopters were engaged in trying to quell the flames.

Additional fire crews from throughout the state have been called to assist with the fire, which is working its way toward the Bonny Doon community.

The fire broke out about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday and was burning out of control Thursday afternoon, Mohler said.

Approximately 250 structures are threatened, Mohler said.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered Wednesday night for about 660 residents on Last Chance Road, Swanton Road, Warrella Truck Trail and Rancho del Oso.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Michael Borelli said Thursday morning that 1,288 additional households in the Bonny Doon area were notified at about 10:50 a.m. that they would have to leave. Those residents are in the areas of Pine Flat Road, Empire Grade, Alba Road and Warnella Road.

The American Red Cross has established a shelter for evacuees at Vintage Faith Church, 350 Mission St. in Santa Cruz.

An evacuation center established at Pacific Elementary School in Davenport Wednesday night was moved elsewhere due to fear that the fire could head in that direction, the school's Principal/Superintendent Sharon Smith said.

Smith said she will have to find a place to stay tonight after being forced Wednesday night to leave her home on Last Chance Road, where she has lived for 38 years.

Smith described the blaze as an out-of-control and rapidly advancing "wall of fire."

"If you can imagine the very largest grove of redwood trees completely on fire, that's what we were seeing," Smith said.

Smith said she is not worried about her house, and commended Cal Fire crews that are making every effort to protect homes.
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Cal Fire had requested additional engines, bulldozers, hand crews and aircraft.

In June 2008, the Martin Fire burned 520 acres and forced the evacuation of 1,500 Bonny Doon residents. Three homes and eight outbuildings were destroyed in that fire.

-- Bay Cities News and Palo Alto Weekly staff