Containment Hits 85% On Loma Fire In Santa Cruz Mountains

SANTA CLARA and SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES, CA – The Loma Fire, burning for a week in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is 85 percent contained and still holding steady at 4,474 acres, Cal Fire officials said this evening.

"Today the fire made no additional forward progress as firefighters continued mopping up and held the existing fire lines," Cal Fire officials said.

The wildfire began around 2:45 p.m. Monday near Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads in southern Santa Clara County, 10 miles northwest of Morgan Hill.

The blaze has destroyed 12 homes and 16 outbuildings and damaged one other home.

It is currently threatening 51 other structures, down significantly since Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire officials.

Fire personnel totalling 986 are fighting the blaze using 47 fire engines, three helicopters, eight bulldozers and 15 water tenders, Cal Fire officials said.

Fire personnel are prepared for any new flare-ups resulting from weakened trees on the steep terrain, Cal Fire officials said.

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--Image via Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office