Loma Fire reaches 50% containment

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS (KTVU) - The Loma Fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains continues to a difficult blaze to contain.

The wildfire grew to 4,345 acres and is 50-percent contained, Cal-Fire updated Friday evening.

Containment remains at 34-percent. Cal fire hopes to have full containment by Monday.

At a Thursday community meeting on the fire at Loma Prieta Elementary School, KTVU learned a firefighter was injured battling the blaze, but it's unclear how that happened. More than 100 people packed the meeting.

“It’s like hell! It's like hell came in and it's just burning everything up," says Priscilla Huber who's been evacuated from her home.  "My children's childhood and all the paintings I've done and my photo equipment and my grandma's stuff and everything you don't want to lose," said Huber lamenting losses.

She lives on Loma Chiquita Road, where Cal Fire says the fire started.  Huber said at this time she's not sure if her home is one of those destroyed, but her friends have lost everything.  "They just have nothing their pets were in their house and they just lost everything and we're not out of danger," says Huber. 

Evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday afternoon for Santa Cruz County residents who were told to leave their homes threatened by the fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains, sheriff's officials said.

The Loma Fire that began around 2:45 p.m. Monday near Loma Prieta  and Loma Chiquita roads in southern Santa Clara County. 
   
The blaze is burning in an area northwest of Morgan Hill near the border between Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

Santa Cruz County residents who live on Rancho Prieta Road, Loma Prieta Way, Pacific Rim, Mount Bache Road, Summit Road, Haven Hill Lane and Ormsby Cutoff have been allowed to return home, Santa Cruz County sheriff's officials said.

Drivers will have limited access on the Santa Cruz County roads due to numerous emergency vehicles in the area and are advised to limit their travel, sheriff's officials said.

Evacuation orders remain in place in Santa Clara County for the Loma Prieta ridgeline area including all tributary roads along Summit Road from Soquel San Jose Road to Ormsby Fire Station. This includes Uvas Canyon County Park, Loma Chiquita, Casa Loma, and Loma PrietaWay. Portions of Croy Road are under an evacuation warning.

Evacuees can seek assistance through centers set up in collaboration with the American Red Cross at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds at 2601 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville, where people can bring their large animals; Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley at 14855 Oka Road in Los Gatos and Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church at 16970 De Witt Ave. in Morgan Hill.
   
Southeasterly winds have sent smoke from the fire into Santa Clara County and the Bay Area that has affected air quality, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
   
Air quality district officials recommend the public to limit their time outdoors, close windows and doors while indoors and prevent outside air from entering by changing settings on their air conditioning units and car ventilation systems to recirculate air.
   
Smoke exposure can lead to irritated eyes, coughing, scratchy throat and inflamed sinuses, district officials said.
   
Increased smoke is expected to spread through the county in the coming days and week, according to Santa Clara County public health officials.
   
Older adults, children and people with respiratory issues are advised to limit their time outdoors when they see or smell smoke, public health officials said.
   
Santa Cruz County public health officials are also keeping an eye on the air quality.
   
Anyone experiencing repeated coughing, tightness or pain in their chest, wheezing, difficulty breathing or nausea should contact their medical provider, public health officials said.
   
There are 2,104 firefighters helping douse the fire that has destroyed 12 single residences and 16 outbuildings. Another residence was damaged and 325 structures remain threatened, Cal Fire officials said. 
   
Crews are battling the fire in a dry, inaccessible area filled with "drought stressed fuels," according to Cal Fire.
   
The blaze has also reached drainages at Mount Loma Prieta, Mount Chual and Uvas Creek, Cal Fire officials said.
   
Traffic has been blocked on multiple roadways including Loma Chiquita Road, Mount Madonna Road at Ormsby Road and Summit Road between Soquel San Jose Road and Pole Line Road, according to Cal Fire.
   
The cause of the fire is under investigation.