San Martin brush fire destroys 1 structure, burns dozens of acres

SAN MARTIN, Calif. -- Structures have been damaged in a brush fire that started today in unincorporated Santa Clara County and briefly closed southbound U.S. Highway 101, Cal Fire and California Highway Patrol officials said.

The Church Fire started late this afternoon at Church Avenue and Monterey Road in the unincorporated community of San Martin, Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean said.

As of 8:50 p.m., the fire had burned 20 acres and was 60 percent contained, Cal Fire officials said.

Highway 101 was open again as of 7:50 p.m., according to the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services.

A mixture structures are in the fire area, which is rural and includes ranch farmland. McLean said crews don't know yet how many structures have been damaged.

He said no injuries have been reported but emphasized the need for residents in the Bay Area to be careful this time of year.

"We all need to be careful," McLean said, asking residents to reflect on the number of fires that have burned recently in the Bay Area.

Tonight a wildfire of at least 225 acres was burning in Contra Costa County near Clayton. Structures have been damaged there too.

"All lot of these fires are in grass," which burns quickly, McLean said.

"If you see a fire, evacuate," he said. If you're told to evacuate, evacuate. There is no time to wait and see."