Central Coast Wildfires Archives

Additional resources called in to assist with Coleman Fire

October 19, 2020 10:54 AM Megan Meier

It’s been a full 24 hours since the Coleman Fire first sparked and crews are working full speed…

Hagerty to hold drive-in movie night at Laguna Seca raceway, proceeds go to fire relief fund

October 16, 2020 3:14 PM Avery Johnson

An organization for enthusiast vehicle owners, Hagerty, is set to host a Motor-In Movie Night at…

Trump reverses course and grants California’s wildfire disaster declaration request

October 16, 2020 11:22 AM CNN

The Trump administration has rejected California’s request for a disaster declaration for six destructive wildfires that…

Residents in parts of Carmel and Big Sur face power outage

October 15, 2020 11:06 AM Megan Meier

CARMEL, Calif. (KION) Residents in parts of Carmel and Big Sur are still without power after PG&E initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)…

Fire in Limekiln State Park knocked down

October 15, 2020 3:23 PM Avery Johnson

A fire reported in Limekiln State Park has been knocked down, according to officials with Los…

Wildfire smoke in US exposes millions to hazardous pollution

October 15, 2020 10:30 AM The Associated Press

Wildfires churning out dense plumes of smoke as they scorch huge swaths of the U.S. West Coast have…

Boulder Creek residents prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoff

October 14, 2020 6:23 PM Megan Meier

On Wednesday, Boulder Creek residents prepared for what could be a long and dark night.…

CalFresh benefits available to Central Coast wildfire victims

October 14, 2020 11:18 AM Avery Johnson

The California Department of Social Services has opened its Disaster CalFresh program to wildfire victims in…

Gov. Gavin Newsom provides update on wildfires, COVID-19 pandemic

October 12, 2020 11:55 AM Avery Johnson

Gov. Gavin Newsom is providing an update on the state’s response to wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic at…

California fire investigators seize utility equipment

October 9, 2020 5:12 PM The Associated Press

Fire investigators looking into what caused a wildfire that killed four people in far Northern California have taken possession…

Vehicle closure at Panoche, Tumey Hills recreation areas extended due to fire danger

October 8, 2020 2:37 PM Avery Johnson

The annual vehicle closure at the Panoche and Tumey Hills recreation areas has been extended…

Dolan Fire burns 124,924 acres, containment now at 98%

August 18, 2020 11:45 PM Avery Johnson

Latest Dolan Fire…

California wildfires are larger than ever, but not deadlier

October 6, 2020 2:19 PM The Associated Press

With months still to go in California’s fire season, the state has already shattered records for the amount of land…

Firefighter working on Dolan Fire tests positive for COVID-19

October 5, 2020 1:59 PM Avery Johnson

Officials working on the Dolan Fire announced that a team member has tested positive for…

California governor nominates 1st gay to state Supreme Court

October 5, 2020 11:16 AM Avery Johnson

Gov. Gavin Newsom is providing an update on the state’s response to wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, but the…

California nears milestone: 4 million acres burned in fires

October 2, 2020 2:59 PM The Associated Press

California is poised to hit a fearsome milestone: 4 million acres burned this year by wildfires that…

Cal Fire releases report on environmental damage caused by Carmel, River Fires

September 30, 2020 12:35 PM Avery Johnson, Megan Meier

Cal Fire has released a report on environmental damage caused by the Carmel and River Fires, and…

Two donation pickup sites created for victims of CZU Lightning Complex Fires

September 30, 2020 2:11 PM Avery Johnson

There are two new donation pickup sites for people affected by the CZU Lightning Complex Fires, according…

King City evacuation center closes following lifted evacuation orders

September 30, 2020 10:45 AM Avery Johnson

The Monterey County Evacuation Center in King City has closed, according to county…

Phase 1 of fire debris cleanup begins in Santa Cruz County

September 25, 2020 2:35 PM Avery Johnson

Phase 1 of debris cleanup for Santa Cruz County residents affected by the CZU Lightning Complex is set to…

Three killed in Northern California wildfire; thousands flee

September 28, 2020 5:34 PM The Associated Press

A Northern California sheriff says three people have died in a fast-moving wildfire west of…

Santa Cruz County residents invited to post-fire debris flow presentation

September 28, 2020 4:00 PM Avery Johnson

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is inviting community members to join its special meeting…

Some California regions begin to see more COVID-19 cases, new wildfires

September 28, 2020 11:49 AM Avery Johnson

Gov. Gavin Newsom is providing an update on the state’s response to wildfires and the COVID-19…

New wildfires scorch wine country near San Francisco

September 28, 2020 10:50 AM The Associated Press

California firefighters battled destructive new wildfires in wine country north of San Francisco Monday as strong…

Mobile trailer provides laundry services for fire evacuees

September 25, 2020 5:19 PM Avery Johnson

Victims of the CZU Lightning Complex Fires can still do laundry with the help of Community…

Portable fire shelters protect firefighters during Dolan Fire

Fort Hunter Liggett emergency responders share details of response to injured firefighters

September 25, 2020 1:09 PM Avery Johnson

When the Dolan Fire doubled in size on Sept. 8, three firefighters faced serious to critical injuries, and Fort Hunter…

High School organizes donation drive for students affected by CZU Lightning Complex Fire

September 25, 2020 2:33 PM Megan Meier

Shoes, shirts and school supplies arrived at San Lorenzo Valley High School by the truckload.…

Closure extended at Los Padres National Forest

September 25, 2020 11:15 AM Avery Johnson

The U.S. Forest Service says it is extending closures and fire prohibitions at nine California National…

Majority of Toro Park trails destroyed in River Fire

September 24, 2020 12:21 PM Megan Meier

Over a month after fire broke out near Pine Canyon, Toro County Park is quiet. The park served as a basecamp for first responders during the River…

Pinnacles National Park to reopen west entrance

September 24, 2020 3:37 PM Avery Johnson

The National Park Service announced that the west entrance of Pinnacles National Park will reopen Friday, but all but a…

Researchers estimate wildfire smoke contributed to 1,000+ California deaths

September 24, 2020 2:36 PM Avery Johnson

Poor air quality has been a concern for many Californians over the course of the last month, but…

Many in Santa Cruz Mountains without power and water during heat wave

September 7, 2020 2:38 PM Drew Andre

About 3,500 homes north of Ben Lomond are under a do not drink and do not boil…

Crews protect structures near Dolan Fire

September 10, 2020 6:16 PM Megan Meier

In Arroyo Seco, firefighters doused the dry landscape with water. Hose lines were laid throughout the small neighborhood at the entrance of Los…

Fire crews respond to wildfire near Zayante

September 23, 2020 3:14 PM Avery Johnson

Several Fire agencies are responding to a wildfire in the Hutchinson area off East…

Hundreds of citations issued for violating ordered closure of Los Padres NF

September 23, 2020 4:10 PM Avery Johnson

Officials with the Los Padres National Forest said scores of written warnings and hundreds of…

Kings Canyon, Yosemite parks reopen as air quality improves

September 23, 2020 3:57 PM The Associated Press

Kings Canyon National Park reopened to visitors on Wednesday and Yosemite National…

Full containment reached for the CZU Lightning Complex. Fires burn 86,509 acres

August 18, 2020 8:41 PM Aaron Groff, Avery Johnson

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) UPDATE 9/22/20 8:50 p.m. – After 37 days, Cal Fire announced that the devastating CZU Lighting Complex is 100…

Phase 1 of Monterey County fire damage cleanup to begin Monday

September 23, 2020 12:30 PM Avery Johnson

Monterey County said it is expected to begin Phase 1 of cleaning properties damaged by wildfires on…

Suspect in arson connected to Dolan Fire found competent

September 17, 2020 11:57 AM Avery Johnson

Court proceedings are on hold for a suspect charged with arson in connection to the Dolan Fire burning in the Big Sur…

Do Not Drink-Do Not Boil notice canceled in area around Blackstone Drive

September 22, 2020 10:56 AM Avery Johnson

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District announced that a Do Not Drink-Do Not Boil notice has been…

Highway 1 along Big Sur coast reopening Monday evening

September 21, 2020 4:05 PM Avery Johnson

Highway 1 in the Big Sur area has been closed for four weeks due to the Dolan Fire, but it will soon be fully…

Officials: California EDD backlog may not be clear until end of January

September 21, 2020 11:51 AM Avery Johnson

Gov. Gavin Newsom is providing an update on wildfires burning around the state and the COVID-19…

Cal Fire official provides in-depth explanation of early days of CZU Lightning Complex

September 18, 2020 4:05 PM Avery Johnson

Cal Fire provided an in-depth explanation of what happened in the early days of the CZU Lightning…

Evacuation center moves from King City Library to King City High School

September 17, 2020 4:05 PM Avery Johnson

Monterey county announced that its evacuation center has moved from the King City Library to the King City High School…

Donation warehouses for Santa Cruz County fire evacuees to close

September 17, 2020 3:55 PM Avery Johnson

Santa Cruz County Officials say that at 4 p.m. Friday, warehouses accepting donations for fire evacuees will…

Yosemite National Park closes due to smoke impact, air quality concerns

September 17, 2020 2:47 PM Avery Johnson

The National Park Service announced that Yosemite National Park will be closed starting…

Sequoia National Park closed due to California wildfire

September 17, 2020 1:05 PM The Associated Press

California’s Sequoia National Park has been fully closed due to a nearby wildfire in the Sierra Nevada…

Santa Cruz County breweries create beer to benefit wildfire victims

September 16, 2020 3:43 PM Avery Johnson

Twelve breweries have worked together to crate a new beer to help victims of the CZU Lightning Complex Fires in Santa Cruz…

Sheriff’s Office: Man arrested for looting in CZU Lightning Complex evacuation area

September 17, 2020 12:14 PM Avery Johnson

A man has been arrested for looting during a state of emergency, prowling and entering an emergency…

Santa Cruz County reduces hours at resource center for fire victims

September 17, 2020 11:30 AM Avery Johnson

Santa Cruz County officials said they will begin reducing hours at the Recovery Resource Center…