About 50 homes were evacuated as the Summit fire was pushed by the winds into Santa Clara County on Saturday, authorities said. The blaze is nearing the historic Sveadal resort southwest of Morgan Hill next to Uvas Canyon County Park on the Santa Cruz-Santa Clara county line.
Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services issued the county's first mandatory evacuations and road closures related to the Summit Fire.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared the state of emergency after the fire, which probably started Thursday in an empty lot off Summit Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains, changed direction.
There is a high probability that the fire, which is now burning at the top of two Santa Clara County canyons, will send embers and burning logs downhill and ignite homes, firefighters said.
The fire fighting crews managed to contain only 35 % of the fire and a full containing will most likely be realized in about two days from now. A complete control isn’t expected until Friday.
We're at a stalemate. It's not growing, but it's not reducing," said Sergeant Fred Plageman of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's office.
According to the latest estimations, the blaze has claimed 3,840 acres and 38 structures, including 20 homes so far.
The residents who were evacuated from the areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains - the areas hit the hardest by the blaze - were allowed to return to their homes today.