Firefighting crews from the East Bay grabbed their gear and headed south to help fight the Coleman Fire burning in Monterey County.
Dozens of homes were being threatened by the fast-moving flames, which have torched more than 3,500 acres, according to sheriff's officials. The Alameda County Fire Department dispatched 44 crew members to the fire Saturday night. On Sunday, they assisted with structure defense, battling tough conditions, along with the flames.
"The weather is working against them; it's high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds," Alameda fire Battalion Chief Jim Watkins said. "And the fuel is tall grass and brush, which allows for rapid fire spread."
Mandatory evacuations have been established for those people living near Reliz Canyon, Monroe Canyon, Pine Canyon and Elm Roads, according to Monterey County Sheriff's Sgt. Brian Irons. More than 120 homes were threatened by the fire. No injuries have been reported.
The blaze grew very little on Sunday, fire officials said, burning about 400 acres within containment lines. The fire was 10 percent contained by Sunday evening.
The blaze ignited Saturday afternoon west of King City on the boundary of Fort Hunter Liggett and Los Padres National Forest's Monterey Ranger district, according to the national incident information system.
Four hundred personnel are fighting the flames, including strike teams from the Alameda County, Fremont and Hayward fire departments.
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An evacuation center has been established at the Lutheran church at 205 Canal St. in King City. Additionally, the SPCA is assisting with animal evacuations, sheriff's officials said.
Bay City News Contributed to this report.
