CalFire told NBC11 the Summit Fire changed from a wind-driven fire to a fuel-driven fire Friday.

The latest numbers show the fire has burned more than 3,000 acres -- about 5.4 square miles. At least 500 homes and 20 commercial structures are threatened and crews report 20 percent containment.

Cal Fire Believes It Has Found Where Fire Started

The fog that draped across the burn area early Friday began lifting around 11 a.m. just as the winds began to increase, National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Anderson said.

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SLIDESHOW: Chopper11 Over The Fire

SLIDESHOW: NBC11's Damian Trujillo's Fire Photos

SLIDESHOW: Ground Photos

SLIDESHOW: Displaced Animals

Google Map Of Fire

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Crowds continued to mill around the corner of Browns Valley and Eureka Canyon roads in Corralitos, an unincorporated community located around 10 miles north of Watsonville, where sheriff's deputies barricaded the roads.

Many residents in the surrounding rural communities were forced to evacuate early Thursday and have not been let back home since.

A steady stream of fire engines from companies across California lumbered through the blockades today and headed northwest up Eureka Canyon Road toward the flames.

Some evacuees spoke of trying to sneak up into the restricted area to check on their homes, while others seemed resigned to waiting at the blockade and wishing for rain.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a 20 percent chance of rain Saturday. Clouds are hanging over the tiny town, but the air is dry and the wind brings whiffs of acrid smoke every few minutes.

Many said they planned to continue to wait near the Corralitos Market and Sausage Co., located across the street from the blockade, all day hoping to get information about their property.

Retired fireman Ron Wohnoutka said he and others who live on Ormsby Cutoff, a residential street about 8 miles from Corralitos, left their homes around 6 a.m. Thursday thanks to the quick thinking of a neighbor who saw flames and alerted other residents.

"Mark Kraft is the hero of the neighborhood," Wohnoutka said. "He called and woke us up, we had to drive out through flames because the fire was jumping the road."

Residents are also worried because one house was robbed after its owners evacuated, resident Allan Christensen said.

"It's bad enough we have to worry about the fire, now we have to worry about robbers too," he added.

Some displaced residents from Corralitos and other areas have found shelter at a fairground in Watsonville.

One girl whose family was evacuated celebrated her eighth birthday at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds shelter.

Maya Michelle Harvey, who is from an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County near Mount Madonna County Park, had donuts for breakfast, and was serenaded by a dozen Red Cross workers in celebration of her big day.

Her grandmother Jane Harvey said the family was evacuated around 3 p.m. Thursday, and is not sure whether their home is still standing.

"We keep seeing smoke in the area where the home is, but we don't know what is going on up there," Harvey said.

NBC11 WeatherPlus Meteorologist Craig Herrera said the fog created colder conditions that made it tougher for the flames to spread.

"That makes it tough for air crews to drop flame retardant on the burn area, but easier for firefighters to work against the flames on the ground," Herrera said.

People in the Santa Clara Valley reported smelling smoke from the fire throughout the day Friday.

The morning fog prevented Cal Fire from deploying its fixed-wing aircraft, spokesman Dave Shew said.

Video: Weather Improves

Instead, Cal Fire used approximately 11 helicopters to drop water, according to Shew. The helicopters are stationed at South County Airport in Morgan Hill where they are collecting the water from ponds and reservoirs, he said.

The blaze has created unhealthy air, according to the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency. Residents in surrounding areas have been warned to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and stay indoors as much as possible.

Residents with respiratory problems as well as young children and the elderly should be especially cautious, and doors and windows should be kept closed. Health officials also warned that homegrown produce should be thoroughly washed before consumption.

Residents with health concerns and questions can call 831-454-4000 during work hours and the Emergency Operations Center at 831-458-7185 over the weekend.

Question And Answers On Health Advisory

A group of 500 new firefighters joined the firefight Friday morning, CalFire Batallion Chief Mark Tolbert said. That brings the total number of firefighters battling the wildfire to 1,200.

Residents of about 700 homes were under evacuation orders.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived at the Cal Fire base camp in Gilroy shortly after 11:30 a.m. Friday for a briefing on the progress of the Summit Fire.

Following the briefing Schwarzenegger, who declared a state of emergency Thursday in response to the fire, answered questions from the media, then thanked firefighters at the base camp for their efforts.

The wildfire is burning near Mount Madonna County Park about 10 miles west of Gilroy.

Fire officials estimate the fire could spread to 10,000 acres before they can put it out.

There have been no reports of injuries.

The fire had periodically been traveling southwest toward the Pacific Ocean.

The fire started at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday off Summit Road near Loma Prieta Road in the Santa Cruz mountains. Officials do not know the cause of the fire yet. One resident, Kenneth Kim, said he smelled smoke and saw flames when he went to use an outhouse. He said he called 911 to report the fire.

Cal Fire told NBC11 that at least 10 homes and two structures have been destroyed.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Ken McGeever said residents living in the path of the fire needed "to be prepared to evacuate in a moment's notice."

Twelve people and 200 horses were being sheltered at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

There is also a group of Alpacas that had to be rescued Wednesday. Their owners are on vacation.

Misty Heffinton and Alyssay Lehr responded to the call for help, but their vehicle could not get up the steep terrain to the area where the animals were staying.

Instead they walked up the mountain and chased the animals. They said the fire line was in sight at the time.

They said it took 20 minutes to catch the Alpacas. All of the animal are safe and unharmed.

SLIDESHOW: View Images

Road closures were in effect at Quail Hollow at Glen Arbor Road, Poleline Road at Hwy. 152 and Corallitos Road at VarneySummit Road east of San Jose.

The fire is burning about seven miles east of Highway 17.

Cal Fire evacuated residents along Loma Prieta Road south to Corralitos Road.

Evacuations of all residents in the Eureka Canyon Road area, Ormsby Cutoff Road and Summit Road area, Lower Highland area(Buzzard, Lagoon, Vaca De Sol-all in Santa Cruz County), according to CalFire.

Firefighters from most counties throughout the Bay Area have been sent to assist.

Some roads in the area are blocked. Summit Road at Mount Madonna Road is closed as well as Pole Line Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Corralitos Road at Freedom is closed and Varney at Corralitos is also closed.

Wind gusts on the fire line reached 45 to 50 mph Thursday, making the fire harder to fight. Winds were much calmer Friday.

There is no estimated time for containment, Cal Fire spokesman Chris Morgan said. Experts say it will depend on the weather.

The California National Guard is providing three rotary aircraft to assist in the firefighting efforts.

An observational helicopter from Mather Air Field, will provide real-time aerial photography and video support to the ground. A CH-47 from Stockton Flight Facility and a UH-60 from Mather; both equipped with fire suppression devices will be dropping retardant on the fire site Friday.

The aircraft left their home stations at about noon and headed to the fire.