Horses Die, Structures Burn In Hale Fire Near Morgan Hill

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A vegetation fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon near Morgan Hill and spread to about 40 acres within an hour is now 65-percent contained, an official with Cal Fire Santa Clara County Fire Department said at about 7 p.m. The blaze was reported at about 1:45 p.m. in the area of Live Oak Avenue, Miramonte Avenue and Hale Avenue — sending large plumes of smoke seen from miles away.

"We do have structures involved, I don't know if they are residences or outbuildings but from the looks of a video they are outbuildings," Spokeswoman Pam Temmermand told Patch earlier in the afternoon.

In an update, Temmermand confirmed four horses died in the fire.

She also said three outbuildings, sheds or barns were destroyed.

At least 75 Cal Fire and San Jose firefighters responded to the blaze and were able to stop its forward progress but it was still posing a threat to structures, she said.

No injuries have been reported in the fire, she noted.

Temmermand was not aware of any immediate evacuation orders, but said California Highway Patrol requested some road closures near the scene of the fire.

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Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch