BONNY DOON, Calif. -- Wind-driven wildfires continue to ravage Northern California for a third day, including a raging forest fire that forced hundreds to evacuate in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

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Map: Martin Fire Evacuation Areas, Road Closures

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The Santa Cruz fire flared just two weeks after another blaze two miles away scorched 4,200 acres and destroyed at least three dozen homes. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for 500 residents in the heavily forested hills north of the city late Wednesday. A thousand more residents fled their homes voluntarily, fire officials said.

The fast-moving fire in the Bonny Doon area grew to more than 300 acres, about half a square mile, shortly after it broke out around 3 p.m. It could spread to as many as 1,000 acres before firefighters are able to slow it down, Battalion Chief Paul Van Gerwen said.

Jeanne Colbus, 60, who lives about five miles from Bonny Doon, said she and her 94-year-old mother quickly left their home after she saw smoke in the hills and received a call ordering them to evacuate.

"I was gardening and I looked up and saw that big column of smoke," said Colbus, who planned to spend the night at an emergency shelter in Felton, several miles from the blaze. "I'm scared. We don't have fire insurance for one thing. A lot of our things are irreplaceable."

The Red Cross has set up a shelter at San Lorenzo Valley Middle School on the Felton campus.

Julie Haff, superintendent of San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District said the cafeteria, gymnasium and administrative offices have been left open for residents fleeing the area.

"The size has grown considerably," Haff said. "The smoke covers the entire length of the football field at the high school."

A Riverview High School graduation that was scheduled to take place this evening has been canceled, school officials said.

Red Cross workers said 12 families have arrived at the evacuation site as of 6 p.m.

Santa Cruz Animal Services workers are available to assist in evacuating livestock and domesticated animals. People needing assistance can call 831-454-7303 and press 1.

The Scotts Valley Animal Shelter will be taking evacuated pets and animals and housing them free of charge until residents can return home.

Hot temperatures, steady winds and tinder-dry vegetation created conditions exactly like those that fed the earlier blaze. This is the second major wildfire in Santa Cruz County in less than three weeks. The exact cause of the blaze was not clear.

The Summit Fire destroyed more than 30 homes and scorched more than 4,200 acres along Summit Road near Mt. Madonna over Memorial Day weekend.

Road Closures

Alba at Empire Grade
Empire Grade at UCSC
Felton Empire at Ashley
Smith at Bonny Doon