SANTA CLARA COUNTY (KRON) — Some lanes of Highway 17 are closed due to a reported vehicle fire that has spread to surrounding brush just north of Redwood Estates, according to the CHP.
Northbound traffic is now fully open, but all but one southbound lane will remain closed at Idylwild Road until 10 p.m. Tuesday night.
Residents are being asked to evacuate their homes as a large number of firefighters work to control a blaze in the Santa Cruz Mountains Monday afternoon, according to fire officials.
Cal Fire Division Chief Jim Crawford said around 200 firefighters are either on scene or en route to the blaze.
Crews have brought the forward progress of the fire to a halt as of around 4:45 p.m. but have not extinguished it, Crawford said.
The fire was reported just before 3 p.m. in unincorporated Santa Clara County, according to the Santa Clara County Fire Department.
Twenty structures are threatened by the blaze but the brush fire had not spread to the homes as of 3:45 p.m.
Vehicles are being turned around on the highway in both directions, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Residents in the area were asked to leave their homes and take shelter at a Redwood Estates Services Association pavilion, Crawford said.
A firefighter is being treated for heat exhaustion. Another firefighter suffered minor burns and is being treated at the hospital.
There is no estimated time of the road fully reopening.
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