Update: At 4:30 p.m., CalFire personnel said the fire is “basically extinguished” and no structures are threatened, but crews will remain on the scene to watch for flareups.
Firefighters are attacking a 100-acre wildfire from the land and air in north Morgan Hill.
The vegetation fire started in the early afternoon Aug. 11 near the intersection of Hale and Curry avenues, just northwest of Morgan Hill. As of about 4 p.m., the fire was about 5 percent contained and had grown to about 100 acres, according to CalFire Battalion Chief Jim Crawford.
Although the south side of the fire, near the Christeph Drive and Murphy Springs neighborhoods, is lined with homes, Crawford said no structures are in danger and no evacuation orders have been called.
“(The flames) are backing down toward the homes in that area, but the smoke is still going over the houses,” Crawford said. “We don’t expect any problems on that side.”
Road closures and heavy traffic have been reported in the area.
In addition to numerous fire engines and other ground equipment, CalFire planes and helicopters could be seen and heard buzzing the area above the vegetation fire from throughout town. A blanket of smoke began to blow south with the wind down the west side of Morgan Hill from the blaze within minutes after it began.
Crawford said he expects crews to remain on the scene overnight cleaning up and extinguishing hot spots.
CalFire and other agencies also responded and quickly extinguished another fire earlier the afternoon of Aug. 11. That vegetation fire occurred near Sunnyside and West Edmundson avenues, but was out by 4 p.m., Crawford said.
Check back for updates.
