Evacuations Issued As Crews Battle Milpitas Brush Fire

MILPITAS, CA --A 300-acre brush fire burning near Ed R. Levin County Park in Milpitas was 40 percent contained Sunday evening, according to fire authorities. An out building or barn may have been damaged but no homes are threatened, Cal Fire assistant division chief Jim Crawford said.

Evacuations were ordered for Weller Road as a result of the fire, which started near Country Club Drive and North Park Victoria Road.

Ed. R. Levin County Park is located in the chaparral foothills of the Diablo Range east of the Santa Clara Valley. It is the largest park in Milpitas.

Crews from the Milpitas, Spring Valley Volunteer and Fremont fire departments are also on the scene along with Cal Fire, according to the Santa Clara County Wildfire Incidents Facebook page.

Several hikers were rescued from the fire area, and power lines are down.

Four air tankers have been ordered, and the fire has the potential to grow to 500 acres, according to the Facebook post. Two helitack crews and the Santa Clara Wildland Task Force are also being asked to respond to the fire. Officials are trying to ground hang gliders in the area

--Bay City News/Photos by Patch reader Tanusree Chatterjee