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Wildfire in California's Santa Cruz Mountains

  • <p>A firefighter is silhouetted while watching flames approach Loma Prieta peak in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains late on September 26, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
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    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A firefighter is silhouetted while watching flames approach Loma Prieta peak in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains late on September 26, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

  • <p>A hot tub rests in front of a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
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    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A hot tub rests in front of a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

  • <p>Firefighters look on as flames approach the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
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    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    Firefighters look on as flames approach the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

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  • <p>Rubble lines a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
    4/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    Rubble lines a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

  • <p>A structure burns as flames rage out of control in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
    5/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A structure burns as flames rage out of control in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

  • <p>A melted basketball hoop rests in a clearing after the Loma fire tore along a ridge top on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
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    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A melted basketball hoop rests in a clearing after the Loma fire tore along a ridge top on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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  • <p>Firefighters attempt to save the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
    7/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    Firefighters attempt to save the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

  • <p>Anthony Lopez, with his girlfriend Sarah Torres, harvests marijuana plants as the Loma fire burns around his home near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
    8/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    Anthony Lopez, with his girlfriend Sarah Torres, harvests marijuana plants as the Loma fire burns around his home near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

  • <p>A hand crew member with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation sets a backfire with a driptorch along Summit Road during the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016.(Stephen Lam/Reuters) </p>
    9/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A hand crew member with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation sets a backfire with a driptorch along Summit Road during the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016.(Stephen Lam/Reuters)

  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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  • <p>Flames from a wildfire tower above firefighters as they try to stop the blaze from crossing Loma Prieta Ave. near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
    10/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    Flames from a wildfire tower above firefighters as they try to stop the blaze from crossing Loma Prieta Ave. near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

  • <p>SANTA CRUZ, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Flames continue to scorch the area in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres. Evacuation orders have been issued for people in about 300 structures near the fire. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) </p>
    11/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    SANTA CRUZ, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Flames continue to scorch the area in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres. Evacuation orders have been issued for people in about 300 structures near the fire. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

  • <p>A CalFire firefighter sprays water on a ridge as he battles the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) </p>
    12/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A CalFire firefighter sprays water on a ridge as he battles the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)

  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>A firefighter covers his face while battling a wildfire near Morgan Hill, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The grass fire along a Northern California highway spread to parched trees, and flying embers landed on nearby homes, setting at least eight homes on fire, authorities said. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
    13/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A firefighter covers his face while battling a wildfire near Morgan Hill, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The grass fire along a Northern California highway spread to parched trees, and flying embers landed on nearby homes, setting at least eight homes on fire, authorities said. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

  • <p>A hand crew member with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation climbs a steep incline after setting a backfire along Summit Road during the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) </p>
    14/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A hand crew member with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation climbs a steep incline after setting a backfire along Summit Road during the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)

  • <p>A hand crew with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation monitor the Loma Fire along Loma Prieta Avenue near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) </p>
    15/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A hand crew with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation monitor the Loma Fire along Loma Prieta Avenue near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)

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  • <p>A firefighter watches as smoke from a wildfire swirls around a stand of trees near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California has worsened a wildfire that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
    16/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A firefighter watches as smoke from a wildfire swirls around a stand of trees near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California has worsened a wildfire that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

  • <p>In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, the Loma Fire rages on the Santa Cruz Mountains summit beyond the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster in Santa Cruz, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The blaze in a rugged area about 30 miles south of San Jose destroyed one home and charred more than 1.5 square miles of dry brush and timber, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Shmuel Thaler/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP) </p>
    17/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, the Loma Fire rages on the Santa Cruz Mountains summit beyond the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster in Santa Cruz, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The blaze in a rugged area about 30 miles south of San Jose destroyed one home and charred more than 1.5 square miles of dry brush and timber, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Shmuel Thaler/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP)

  • <p>A burned out Porsche is seen near a partially burned home in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
    18/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    A burned out Porsche is seen near a partially burned home in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>Sampson Spence of Fremont Fire douses flames as they approach a road in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 28, 2016. The Loma Fire has charred more than 2000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
    19/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    Sampson Spence of Fremont Fire douses flames as they approach a road in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 28, 2016. The Loma Fire has charred more than 2000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

  • <p>Firefighter Capt. Chris Zinko takes a break while battling a wildfire near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California has worsened a wildfire that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
    20/20

    Wildfire in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains

    Firefighter Capt. Chris Zinko takes a break while battling a wildfire near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California has worsened a wildfire that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

<p>A firefighter is silhouetted while watching flames approach Loma Prieta peak in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains late on September 26, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
<p>A hot tub rests in front of a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
<p>Firefighters look on as flames approach the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Rubble lines a residence leveled by the Loma fire along Loma Chiquita Road on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
<p>A structure burns as flames rage out of control in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
<p>A melted basketball hoop rests in a clearing after the Loma fire tore along a ridge top on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, near Morgan Hill, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
<p>Firefighters attempt to save the Casa Loma fire station in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Anthony Lopez, with his girlfriend Sarah Torres, harvests marijuana plants as the Loma fire burns around his home near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
<p>A hand crew member with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation sets a backfire with a driptorch along Summit Road during the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016.(Stephen Lam/Reuters) </p>
<p>Flames from a wildfire tower above firefighters as they try to stop the blaze from crossing Loma Prieta Ave. near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
<p>SANTA CRUZ, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Flames continue to scorch the area in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1,000 acres. Evacuation orders have been issued for people in about 300 structures near the fire. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) </p>
<p>A CalFire firefighter sprays water on a ridge as he battles the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) </p>
<p>A firefighter covers his face while battling a wildfire near Morgan Hill, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. The grass fire along a Northern California highway spread to parched trees, and flying embers landed on nearby homes, setting at least eight homes on fire, authorities said. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
<p>A hand crew member with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation climbs a steep incline after setting a backfire along Summit Road during the Loma Fire near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) </p>
<p>A hand crew with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation monitor the Loma Fire along Loma Prieta Avenue near Santa Cruz, California, U.S. September 27, 2016. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) </p>
<p>A firefighter watches as smoke from a wildfire swirls around a stand of trees near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California has worsened a wildfire that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
<p>In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, the Loma Fire rages on the Santa Cruz Mountains summit beyond the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster in Santa Cruz, Calif. More California residents were ordered from their homes Tuesday as a growing wildfire threatened remote communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The blaze in a rugged area about 30 miles south of San Jose destroyed one home and charred more than 1.5 square miles of dry brush and timber, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Shmuel Thaler/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP) </p>
<p>A burned out Porsche is seen near a partially burned home in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 27, 2016. The Loma Prieta Fire has charred more than 1000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Sampson Spence of Fremont Fire douses flames as they approach a road in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Prieta, California on September 28, 2016. The Loma Fire has charred more than 2000 acres and burned multiple structures in the area. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Firefighter Capt. Chris Zinko takes a break while battling a wildfire near Morgan Hill, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. A heat wave stifling drought-stricken California has worsened a wildfire that burned some buildings and forced people from their homes in remote communities along the Santa Cruz Mountains. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) </p>
Yahoo News Photo

Firefighters worked to control a wildfire on Tuesday in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco Bay area that has forced hundreds of residents to evacuate, despite its relatively small size, officials said.

The so-called Loma Fire broke out on Monday afternoon and has scorched more than 1,000 acres (405 hectares) about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the town of Morgan Hill, fire officials said. Firefighters have built containment lines around 5 percent of the blaze.

The fire threatens about 300 homes spread out along a network of rural roads through valleys and hills in the Santa Cruz Mountains, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents, said Captain Brian Oliver of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District.

With temperatures in the area nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), the more than 500 firefighters working to contain the blaze scrambled on Tuesday to protect buildings in the area, officials said.

Oliver said the fire, coming at the height of California’s wildfire season, has the potential to balloon in size. (Reuters)

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