Calif. wildfire forces hundreds to flee homes
June 12: The Santa Cruz wildfire in California continues to drive residents from their homes.
FELTON, Calif. - Firefighters struggled to gain control of a series of wind-driven wildfires burning across Northern California, including a raging forest fire that forced hundreds to flee their homes in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The fast-moving blaze about 10 miles northwest of Santa Cruz grew to 900 acres — or about 1 1/2 square miles — Wednesday night after it broke around 3 p.m. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for 500 residents in the heavily forested hills. Voluntary evacuations were in place for another 1,000 residents.
The fire threatened hundreds of homes and could spread, Battalion Chief Paul Van Gerwen said. About 650 firefighters were expected to be in place by Thursday morning.
