Good progress reported against Calif. blaze

Oct. 26, 2009 | AP

Nearly 1,000 firefighters are working to contain a blaze in California's Santa Cruz Mountains, and officials say they made good progress overnight.

The wildfire in the rugged area north of Santa Cruz began around 3 a.m. Sunday and has forced the evacuation of about 85 homes. Fueled by high winds, the fire grew to about 600 acres by nightfall, destroying a trailer and two outbuildings, and was 20 percent contained.

The flames are burning in the same place where a wildfire scorched 4,200 acres last May.

State Fire Battalion Chief Jim Crawford says officials still are evaluating Monday morning's containment numbers.

Crawford says two firefighters have suffered minor injuries.

The cause remains under investigation.

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