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Cool, damp weather is helping firefighters get an edge on a 3,870-acre fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains that has burned nearly 40 structures and is threatening hundreds more, according to Cal Fire.
The Summit Fire, which has cost about $6.1 million, is 50 percent contained and full containment could come as early as Tuesday night.
“We are very, very optimistic with the fact that the winds have died down,” Bamberger said. “There is still about 4 miles of line to build. We are starting to get some fresh firefighters.”
The fire, located about 30 miles south of Gilroy, has burned 20 residences and 18 commercial structures, Bamberger said. About 550 residential buildings and 20 commercial structures remain threatened.
Nearly 2,900 firefighters are fighting the fire today. There are 96 fire crews, 278 engines, two airtankers, 13 helicopters, 35 dozers and 47 water tenders.
Among the agencies assisting with the blaze are Cal Fire, the National Guard, California State Parks, Santa Clara County Parks and Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
The fire made short runs during the night, but there wasn’t significant expansion. Firefighters are facing continuing problems with establishing a line around the fire in the steep terrain. Thick swaths of dead brush and trees are also posing problems.
“What’s burning right now is just the interior, which is what we wanted,” Bamberger said. “We are kind of letting the center of it go ahead and burn and that is why people are still seeing smoke, but it is not moving outside of the line that has been established.”
The temperature in the area of the Summit Fire was about 55 degrees at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Fog mixed with smoke was blanketing the area. Winds were blowing 5 mph southwest and southeast this morning and were expected to reach about 10 mph. The forecasted humidity was about 60 percent.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.
Cal Fire updates on the blaze are available online at
http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current .
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The fire is 15 miles north west of Gilroy. Check your map, or maybe actually go to the fire to report on it.
To CAL Fire Chief Grijava and the CAL Fire Firefighters- thank you for a job WELL DONE!
To all the other firefighters- THANK YOU TOO!!!
Hey imastarchick, 15 miles northwest of gilroy is Los Gatos. There’s no fire there [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff].