Fire officials battling the blaze in the Santa Cruz mountains have now requested backup from five East Bay fire agencies, including the Fremont, Newark, Union City, Hayward, and Alameda County departments.

Firefighters from these agencies have been preparing all morning, and they finally received the call around 10:30 a.m. This call will add 20 firefighters and five specialty engines to the scene.
Officials are also discussing the possible use of a DC-10 aircraft, which can drop 13,000 gallons of water or retardant. However, the plane may have trouble flying low enough to drop water on the flames. If water is dropped at too high an altitude, it can dissipate before it reaches the fire.
As of now, 3,000 acres have been burned. Officials are hoping the dry, fast westerly winds will change into moist wind from the ocean at some point this afternoon.
Here is a picture of a DC-10 assisting in blazes unrelated to the Santa Cruz mountain fire:
Help with the Fire | Injuries 
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