Fire destroys livestock building in east Morgan Hill

Fire crews extinguished a blaze that destroyed a livestock building in a remote area in east Morgan Hill before it spread to the vast surrounding wildland.
White smoke from the fire on the 17200 block of Kruse Ranch Lane, which sits on a ridge off Thomas Grade, could be seen from the valley below.
A livestock building about 100-by-50-feet caught on fire for an unknown reason, and emergency dispatch received the first call about 3:50 p.m., according to Calfire battalion chief Jim Crawford.
The fire was contained by about 4:45 p.m., Crawford said, though smoke could still be seen after 5 p.m.
Crews and equipment from Calfire, Santa Clara County Fire, South County Fire and Gilroy Fire departments responded to the blaze, Crawford said.
A water tender was necessary at the scene because the area where the fire occurred is “remote” and the property didn’t have access to large quantities of water, Crawford said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.