SCU Fires: Dry Heat Returns; 50% Containment

BAY AREA, CA — Crews made headway Sunday as they reached 50 percent containment of the second largest wildfire in California history. The SCU Lightning Complex has scorched 377,471 acres, according to Cal Fire.

Humidity levels dropped overnight, allowing the fire to burn actively. A dry warming trend arrived to the area Sunday with a high pressure system expected to build throughout the day. The high pressure build up will keep smoke trapped over the burn zones.

"Firing teams were battling dense old growth brush and narrow overgrown roadways in their efforts to keep the fire inside of the control lines," Cal Fire said Sunday.

Evacuation orders were still in place for parts of Santa Clara County, Stanislaus County and Alameda County Sunday.

Cal Fire announced evacuation orders had been reduced to warnings for San Joaquin County Saturday afternoon. The warning extends to Zone 10A, south of the fire perimeter to the San Joaquin/Stanislaus County Line South of the fire perimeter to the San Joaquin/Alameda County line.

The SCU Lightning Complex began Aug. 16 with multiple fires that have merged into one massive blaze. So far, 53 structures have been destroyed, nine structures have been damaged and five people have sustained injuries. More than 20,000 structures are threatened.

Many large trees have burned and others that have been weakened by the fires continue to fall and obstruct roadways.

There were 2,025 first responders working to suppress the fire Sunday.