Crews fire containment at 80%

Cal Fire cancels evacuation order, reopens Cañada Road

GILROY >> Aided by favorable weather conditions, firefighters on Thursday increased containment of the Crews fire to 80%, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Cal Fire said in a morning news release it expected to fully contain the 5,400-acre wildfire by next week.

“Overnight firefighters took advantage of favorable conditions to build additional control lines,” the agency said. “With the anticipated hotter and drier weather conditions, firefighters will work diligently today mopping up and removing hazard trees where control lines have been completed.”

Wednesday, the turn of events led Cal Fire to cancel all evacuation orders and reopen Cañada Road, which had been closed off to battle the blaze. An evacuation center at the Gilroy Senior Center also has been shut down.

The fire ignited near Crews Road and Sunlit Oaks Court just before 2 p.m. Sunday and swelled to 1,500 acres that night, according to Cal Fire. By Monday night, it had consumed 5,400 acres. The fire has not increased in size since then.

No injuries have been reported, but the blaze has destroyed at least one structure and damaged another.

Cal Fire said it is working on a damage assessment as the investigation into the cause of the fire continues.