California wildfire forces evacuations, injures firefighter

Fires have forced the evacuation of about 30 people on the east side of the Silicon Valley

SAN JOSE, California (CNN) -- An wind-whipped wildfire that started early Sunday on the east side of the Silicon Valley has forced the evacuation of about 30 people, destroyed one home and injured a firefighter.

About 500 homes and businesses are without power.

San Jose Fire Capt. Mark Mooney said a downed power line apparently started the fire in a grove of eucalyptus trees about 1:30 a.m. and that winds "in excess of 30 mph" quickly spread the blaze across dry hillside.

"At this point we have contained it, but it is not under control," said Mooney.

A spokeswoman for Pacific Gas & Electric said the outage affecting about 500 customers is confined to the eastern foothills.

Rough terrain makes it difficult to determine the size of the fire, Mooney said.

Six homes have been burned. "One of these, we know, has been burned to the ground," said Mooney. He said the injured firefighter was being taken to an area hospital for treatment of a head injury.

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Mooney said that 32 adults and children were evacuated to the Piedmont Middle School and that others who had left their homes were in an area restaurant.

In addition to the San Jose department, firefighters from five neighboring communities are helping combat the blaze.

Because of darkness, firefighters have been unable to use water-dumping helicopters.

"At this point, it is just water and hoses," said Mooney.

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Wildland Fire Potential Assessment (through November 2nd)
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

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