Loma Fire: Santa Cruz Mountain Wildfire Surges To 1,000 Acres

SANTA CLARA and SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES, CA – UPDATE, MONDAY, SEPT. 26 10 p.m.: Cal Fire now reports that the fire is now confirmed to have burned 1,000 acres.

#LomaFire [update] off Loma Prieta Rd and Loma Chiquita Rd, 10 miles NW of Morgan Hill (Santa Clara County) is now 1000 acres. pic.twitter.com/9vh90hW4BP
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) September 27, 2016

UPDATE, MONDAY, SEPT. 26 6:30 p.m.

A fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains has burned more than 500 acres and led to evacuations in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties this afternoon, authorities said.

The blaze was reported around 2:50 p.m. in the area of Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads off of Summit Road, Cal Fire Assistant Chief Michael Borelli said.

The area is north of the border between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, where a large plume of smoke could be seen for miles.

The fire has spread to more than 500 acres as of 6:40 p.m., fire officials said.

No injuries have been reported.

Evacuation orders have been issued for people in about 300 structures near the fire on Casa Loma Road, Loma Chiquita Road and Loma Prieta Road, Borelli said.

Roughly 200 firefighters have responded to the scene to battle the blaze with assistance from helicopter and air tanker crews, according to Borelli.

San Jose firefighters have also been sent to the scene, city fire official said.

The fire appears to be within the vicinity of buildings for radio stations KBAY-FM and KKUP-FM.

In Santa Clara County, deputies are helping evacuate people on Loma Prieta Road, Casa Loma Road, Summit Road, Uvas Road and Loma Chiquita Road, sheriff's officials said.

In Santa Cruz County, people have also been instructed to leave the area of Mount Bache Road, Loma Prieta Road and Highland Way, sheriff's officials said.

An evacuation center has been set up at Soquel High School, according to sheriff's officials.

Closures are also in effect at Mount Bache and Loma Prieta roads; Mount Bache and Highland Way; and Mount Madonna and Pole Line roads, sheriff's officials said.

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UPDATE: MONDAY, SEPT. 26, 4:50 p.m.

The Loma Fire, a wildfire that erupted this afternoon in the Santa Cruz Mountains, has burned more than 150 acres in Santa Clara County, Cal Fire officials said.

The blaze was reported around 2:50 p.m. in the area of Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads off of Summit Road, Cal Fire Assistant Chief Michael Borelli said.

The area is north of the border between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, where a large plume of smoke could be seen for miles.

As of about 4 p.m., the fire spread to 150 acres and no injuries were reported, according to Borelli.

Evacuation orders have been issued for people in about 300 structures near the fire on Casa Loma Road, Loma Chiquita Road and Loma Prieta Road, Borelli said.

Roughly 200 firefighters have responded to the scene to battle the blaze with assistance from helicopter and air tanker crews, according to Borelli.

San Jose firefighters have also been sent to the scene, city fire officials said.

The fire appears to be within the vicinity of buildings for radio stations KBAY-FM and KKUP-FM.

No other details about the fire were immediately available this afternoon.

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MONDAY, SEPT. 26, 4:13 p.m.

Cal Fire crews and firefighters from agencies throughout the area are pouring into the Santa Cruz Mountains to battle a wildfire that sparked at 2:45 p.m. and grew to 1,000 acres in less than two hours.

The blaze, already dubbed the Loma Fire, is in the area of Loma Prieta and Loma Chiquita roads north of the border between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, Cal Fire officials said.

The blaze is threatening critical emergency radio towers on Loma Prieta peak, according to San Jose Fire Fighters Local 230.

The smoke is visible in San Jose, Scotts Valley and throughout the South Bay, according to reports.

No other details about the fire were immediately available this afternoon.

Previous: Fire in Santa Cruz Mountains: Crews Headed to Scene

Also see:

• Sawmill Fire Holds Steady Overnight At 1,500 Acres; Containment Improves
• Bulldozer Operator Injured In Soberanes Fire; Containment at 76%

--Bay City News contributed to this report/Images via Scotts Valley PD, Cal Fire, SanJoseFireFighters, Scott Morris and SJSU Fire Weather Lab