With over 900 fire personnel on the scene the fire is now 90% contained. The damage estimate has again been revised down, to 520 acres. Mild winds helped prevent the fire from spreading since it was initially reported. 3 residences and 8 outbuildings are confirmed destroyed, with a further three buildings listed as damaged. Martin Road remains closed between Ice Cream Grade and Pine Flat Road, but is expected to reopen today. Most of the residents who were evacuated have been allowed to return.

Officially the cause of the fire remains under investigation and Fire officials have released a sketch of a man they would like to interview in connection. Local residents suspect that it was accidentally started by hikers in the Moon Rocks area of the Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve.

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CDF have revised their estimates on the extent of the damage. They are now reporting that the fire covers 600 acres and the preliminary assessment is that 10 houses have been destroyed; so far just two are confirmed destroyed. As of Friday evening the fire is 65% contained.
This evening the winds have blown the smoke over the valley; Paul Romero sent me this photo from his vineyard in San Jose. However unlike the Summit Fire there's no smell of smoke (yet?)

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Another big fire is raging in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Unlike the Summit Fire, this one is in a populated area close to the community of Bonny Doon and just over a mile from the Bonny Doon Vineyard tasting room. The fire began on wednesday afternoon, around 3PM.

Around 1500 people are reported to have been evacuated from Ice Cream Grade Road, Martin Road, Moon Rock Road, Smith Grade and Pine Flat Road. Over 1000 houses and other buildings are threatened. Latest estimates are that 700 acres have burned (with the fire only 5% contained) and the acreage is expected to be at least twice that before it's extinguished. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for Santa Cruz County.

Paul Romero's blog has a post on the fire - he manages a small vineyard very close to the perimeter. McHenry and Beauregard are also nearby.

There are some photos of the fire (or, more accurately, the smoke from it) on Flickr by "Soaked In Sin". My thanks to her for allowing me to use her photos in this post.

UPDATE: Bonny Doon Vineyard is reporting that their tasting room is out of immediate danger and will re-open once the restrictions are lifted.

Map of the affected area

News reports:
Mercury News
Santa Cruz Sentinel

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