Gusty winds overnight pushed the Summit fire northeast into Santa Clara County Saturday, prompting the early morning evacuation of about 50 homes near the historic Sveadal resort at the end of a narrow wooded canyon west of Morgan Hill.
The sudden shift in the direction of the fire, which investigators believe started Thursday morning in an empty lot off Summit Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains, triggered a declaration of emergency by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Firefighters said that after consuming several hundred acres at the top of two Santa Clara County canyons the fire could send embers and burning logs downhill and ignite homes.
They said the blaze is now 35 percent contained and at the fire line around the flames should be completed within four days. Complete control, however, is not expected until Friday and that means smoke will fill the sky for days.
Officials said people with respiratory problems, young children and older adults should limit their exposure to smoky air by staying indoors as much as possible. Windows and doors should be kept closed to prevent indoor air from becoming dirty, said officials.
West Coast 911 firefighting news source - Mercury News / Read entire article
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