Wildfire in Santa Cruz Mountains Burns Out of Control

A wildfire is burning out of control near the town of Bonny Doon in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Photo: Wildfire in Santa Cruz Mountains Burns Out of Control

As of 11 p.m. Wednesday, the wind-driven fire had burned 1,000 acres through thick brush, according to Cal Fire, Fox40 reports.

At 10:30 p.m., the fire was still growing. At least four strike teams were called in; the last was sent to Big Creek Lumber for structure protection.

Firefighters on the scene said conditions are dry so it is ripe for the fire to grow. Emergency dispatchers said the fire is being fueled by winds pushing the fire through the canyon to Last Chance Road, a small dirt road dotted with homes. Prisoners from the Ben Lomond Conservation Camp hiked into an area of the fire and were fighting it by hand, San Jose Mercury News reports.

In the meantime, Nearly 250 homes are being evacuated right now in the Swanton Road area of Santa Cruz County. A Red Cross emergency evacuation center has been set up at Pacific School in the town of Davenport, abc7news.com reports.