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A fast-moving wildfire burning along a mountain ridge east of 3,700-foot Mt. Loma Prieta in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Monday afternoon darkened skies from Santa Cruz to Watsonville.Later, at 9:30 p.m. quick response from Scotts Valley and Felton firefighters prevented the possibly destructive spread of a nine-acre brush fire off Lockhart Gulch Road past the Mission Springs Conference Center, about two miles from Scotts Valley Drive.The two local fires this week underscored the heightened wildfire dangers with hot, dry fall weather, and the importance of rapid response by local firefighting crews.The fire of undetermined origin along Summit Road had spread to more than 1,500 acres by mid-day Tuesday, when Cal Fire reported it was just five percent contained.At its peak, the blaze was growing at the rate of about 150 acres per hour, with a slight northwesterly breeze sending flames away from more populated areas.According to Cal Fire, more than 500 firefighters from multiple agencies, including Scotts Valley, were on the scene.Red flames along the ridge were visible from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk amusement park. One home was destroyed, and at least 300 structures were threatened by the fire, which is near local television towers and emergency radio towers.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio transmitters on Mount Umunhum were off the air because of the fire.Evacuations occurred along Summit, Mount Madonna and Croy Ridge and other roads, using reverse 911 calls. About 300 families were evacuated in the first three hours, Cal Fire said. An evacuation center was set up at Soquel High School, the Jewish Community Center in Los Gatos, and the Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church.The fire began off Loma Prieta Road and Loma Chiquita Road, about 10 miles east of Loma Prieta Elementary School, and 10 miles north of Soquel and Aptos.Meanwhile, the Soberanes Fire in Big Sur, where several companies of local firefighters worked for weeks, was stalled at 127,000 acres, and 78 percent contained. The fire began July 22, and now ranks as the most costly (in firefighting costs) in U.S. history.Loma fire statistics as of Tuesday, 12:30 p.m.Total Fire Engines:   65Total Fire Crews:     20Total Airtankers:      6  Total Helicopters:   4Total Dozers:                        13Total Water Tenders:          10As 100-degree temperatures, winds and drought conditions persisted in the mountains this week, Cal Fire alerted all residents to be cautious during the heightened fire danger period.Cal Fire offered these fire prevention tips:Fall leaves are beautiful, but they also present a fire hazard.Don’t mow or trim dry grass on windy days.Never pull your vehicle over in dry grass.Target shoot only in approved areas, use lead ammunition only, and never at metal.Ensure campfires are allowed, and if so, be sure to extinguish them completely.Make sure all portable gasoline-powered equipment has a spark arrester.Report any suspicious activities to prevent arson.

Saturday, Sept. 17, was not a good day for trash. It was a great day for the San Lorenzo River and for the Monterey Bay.

The owner of the historic Brookdale Lodge complex in the Santa Cruz Mountains said this week he is now hopeful of opening a completely renovated hotel with retail stores by the end of the year, and of opening the legendary Brook Room restaurant in 2017.