A raging wildfire has now forced hundreds of northern California residents from their homes.

The blaze started in Santa Cruz County shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday evening.
    
It has grown to about 1,200 acres and is still at zero containment. Fire officials ordered mandatory evacuations for about 600 people in the Bonny Doon area.

Some 250 structures in the area are in potential danger.    

More than 1,000 firefighters are battling the flames.
    
A shelter for the evacuees has been set up in Santa Cruz, which is about eight miles from the area of the fire.

The cool temperatures and high humidity gave the firefighters assistance overnight, but they were hampered by the steep land covered with heavy brush, officials said.