Sherry and Keith Chastain walk down the driveway to their burned out home, along Ormsby Trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains, near Corralitos, Calif. Firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures and calmer winds during the weekend and today as they continued to fight a persistent wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains that has chewed through acres of centuries-old redwoods, destroyed at least 17 homes and displaced hundreds of people.
Fire officials are predicting the Summit Fire will be fully contained sometime today, according to CalFire spokesman Dick Rawsom. By noon, the fire was 85 percent contained and had consumed more than 4,200 acres.
The cost of fighting the fire, which began shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday, has risen to $11.2 million, and seven firefighters have suffered minor injuries.
Fifteen buildings are still threatened by the blaze, and 36 homes and 18 outbuildings have been destroyed. The cause of the fire, which began near Summit Road and Maymen Flats south of Loma Prieta, is still under investigation.
Firefighters taking advantage of coastal fog and cool temperatures had the fire 85 percent contained by Tuesday morning, six days since the flames broke out.
Favorable conditions on Monday allowed officials to send some firefighters home and allowed some of the hundreds of evacuees to return to their properties.
The hardest-hit neighborhoods remained closed until Tuesday afternoon, when all residents with proper identification were being allowed back to survey the damage.
By 3 p.m. today, all road closures were lifted for residents only, and Mt. Madonna Park was scheduled to re-open later today. Entry to the areas which had been evacuated is still limited to residents only, and a proof of residency such as a driver's license or utility bill will be required to enter the areas.
About 2,600 firefighters remained at the scene, down from more than 3,000 at the height of the blaze. Seven firefighters have suffered minor injuries, officials said.
A Hollister organization is offering to help animals forced to evacuate because of the fire. All Creatures Great and Small Rescue has offered to take in a dog, a cat and small farm animals and can provide blankets for bedding for pets.
For more information, contact the organization at (831) 636-7559 or e-mail to vivatacgsinc@aol.com.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covers Morgan Hill education and public safety for South Valley Newspapers. Send her an e-mail.
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