The blaze is around 90 percent contained and has burned around 630 acres and between five and 15 structures, officials said. The fire started around 2 p.m. Friday near Watsonville in the area of state Highway 1 and Buena Vista Drive. Approximately 650 firefighters have been fighting the blaze.
Fire officials initially evacuated about 2,000 residents in the Larkin Valley and Buena Vista areas, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department.
Residents inside the fire area, bounded by state Highway 1, Calabasas Road, White Road and Buena Vista, are not yet being allowed to return to their homes.
American Red Cross evacuation centers at Aptos High School at 100 Mariner Way in Aptos, and at Lakeview Middle School at 2350 East Lake Ave. south of the county fairgrounds, closed at 9 p.m. Friday. Residents in need of shelter should call the Red Cross at (831) 462-2881.
Temperatures in the fire zone today are expected to be between 94 and 104 degrees.
