Cal Fire says Bear Fire 100 percent contained
UPDATE 10/26/2017: The Bear Fire is now 100 percent contained, according to Cal Fire officials. The total acreage lost is 391, and tomorrow a press conference is expected to reveal information on the cause of that fire.
Crews will remain on scene through next week to make sure there are no flare ups.
UPDATE 10/20/2017 5:04 p.m.: The Bear Fire is now 79 percent contained. Cal Fire said remaining evacuation orders will be lifted by 8:00 a.m. Monday, October 23rd.
If you have been displaced by the fire you can call 1-866-272-2237 for help.
UPDATE 10/20/2017 4:00 p.m.: The Bear Fire has burned 391 acres and is 79 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
There have been nine injuries related to the fire.
Cal Fire said fire weakened trees and steep terrain continue to be a challenge for firefighters, but they were able to increase containment due to better fire perimeter mapping.
UPDATE: 10/20/2017 10:02 a.m. The Bear Fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains remains at 320 acres with an increased containment of 40 percent.
The fire started on Bear Creek Canyon Road and Deer Creek Road in Boulder Creek on October 16 around 10:37 p.m. Four structures were destroyed.
Evacuation orders remain for Bear Creek Canyon Road, Deer Creek Road, Rons Road, Dons Road, and their tributary streets in the fire area. Bear Creek Road between Hawk Ridge Road and Hwy 35 is open to residents only.
*Cal Fire expects to fully contain the Bear Fire by Tuesday, October 24.
The cause of the vegetation fire is still under investigation.
UPDATE 10/19/2017 8:31 p.m.: The Bear Fire is now 35 percent contained and still 320 acres, according to Cal Fire.
Evacuation orders remain in place for Bear Creek Canyon Road, Deer Creek Road, Rons Road and Dons Road.
UPDATE: 10/19/2017 11:10 a.m. The Bear Fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains has spread to 320 acres and is now 30 percent contained.
According to Cal Fire, the fire ignited on Bear Creek Road and Deer Creek Road in Boulder Creek Monday night. 300 structures are threatened and four have been destroyed.
900 firefighters are battling the flames, seven of which were injured since the start of the fire.
Cal Fire is investigating the cause of the Bear Fire.
Evacuation orders remain for Bear Creek Canyon Road, Deer Creek Road, Rons Road, Dons Road, and their tributary streets in the fire area. Bear Creek Road between Hawk Ridge Road and Highway 35 will open to residents only at 12 p.m. Thursday.
UPDATE 10/18/2017 8:03 p.m.: Cal Fire said the Bear Fire has grown to 300 acres and is now 15 percent contained.
UPDATE: 10/18/2017 4:27 p.m. Cal Fire officials confirmed with KION that another firefighter has been injured battling the Bear Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Since the fire started on Monday evening, seven firefighters have suffered injuries, some of which include smoke inhalation, second degree burns, a broken wrist and facial lacerations.
900 firefighters continue to battle the 271 acres of flames with only 10 percent containment.
UPDATE: 10/18/2017 4:03 p.m.
Aerial firefighting operations are back on for the time being, helicopters and other fixed wing aircraft were grounded earlier Wednesday due to a drone spotted in the burn zone.
It was an air show the last couple hours with helicopters and other aircraft dumping water on the Bear Fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
“It’s important to know our primary effort is to try to put out this fire. We understand people are curious but flying a drone like this, it’s grounded air assets now until we can figure out who is flying it and get it out of that airspace,” said Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Chris Clark.
The airspace is very tight. Authorities said if the operator is found, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“If we were to strike that drone, it could cause damage to one of our equipment of if that drone were to crash it would then spark another wildfire, which we obviously don’t want,” said Cal Fire official, Jordan Motta.
The aircraft, needed because getting to the Bear Fire has been difficult. Some of the roads are just ten feet wide. Fire engines can barely inch by, it’s much more difficult for bull dozers.
Wednesday KION had a first-hand look at the damage left behind at Bear Creek Canyon Road and the dangers that linger.
“Some of the dangers facing crews is obviously losing your footing, you can have injuries to your lower extremities, things like that, and we also look out for rolling material uphill. There’s burning material suck as longs, branches, trees that can tumble down the hill, the rocks that have been loosened by the roots being burnt out, those can tumble down the hill, and you always have people on the lookout, listening, and just have a 360 view of special awareness of what’s going on around you,” said Motta.
Cal Fire said there are two types of burns happening in the fire zone. One type is a clean burn, where all of the vegetation and the leaves have been burnt off the trees, leaving just the trunks. Then there is something called a dirty burn, where there are still leaves on the trees, which could still burn.
“You have to watch out for the trees because they’re hazardous, cause they’ve been burning and if the hazard top the widow makers they can come down and do some damage as well,” said Oregon Firefighter, Steve Chapman.
They’re hoping mother nature will provide some much needed relief this week, so they can continue on with the firefight.
The fire remains at 271 acres and 10 percent containment, according to Cal Fire.
UPDATE: 10/18/2017 12:22 p.m. According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Cal Fire air operations have resumed fighting the Bear Fire.
Air operations were suspended for about an hour due to a drone flying in the air Wednesday.
“Drone flying is illegal during fire or other disaster operations,” said the Sheriff’s Office.
UPDATE: 10/18/2017 11:29 a.m. Flight operations are suspended due to a drone flying in the area of the Bear Fire.
According to Cal Fire, they have not made contact with the person who has been flying a drone over the fire since Wednesday morning. Firefighters have not been able to utilize air support and won’t be able to until the drone is down.
The fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains remains at 271 acres and only 10 percent contained.
10/18/2017 9:31 a.m. Cal Fire says containment lines held overnight, and the Bear Fire remains at 271 acres. Containment has increased to 10 percent.
At a press briefing Wednesday morning, a spokesperson said six people have been injured. One firefighter sustained a fractured wrist. Another firefighter is hospitalized after suffering second degree burns overnight.
Cal Fire stressed that no areas outside the evacuation zone are threatened.
Wednesday morning, fire crews are concentrating their efforts to protect the densely-populated Las Cumbres area.
PREVIOUS STORY: 10/17/2017 4:52 p.m. According to Cal Fire the Bear Fire has spread to 271 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
600 firefighters are now battling the fire. Four firefighters have been released from the hospital after suffering minor injuries due to the fire. One firefighter remains in the hospital.
The fire is 5 percent contained.
Officials said crews will be battling the flames throughout the night.
UPDATE: 10/17/2017 1:30 p.m. Smoke is visible almost 20 miles away at the forested University of California Santa Cruz campus. The Bear Fire has spread to 200 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Officials issued a notice to students that if the situation becomes threatening they will issue an emergency alert.
“The campus is monitoring the fire and will take all necessary precautions to protect students and employees. We sent out a campus wide email this morning to students and staff. We wanted to make sure people were aware of it,” said Scott Hernandez Jason, UC Santa Cruz Media Relations spokesman.
If the situation threatens the campus, OES will use CruzAlert to send a mass notification to the campus community.
UPDATE: 10/17/2017 10:19 a.m. The Bear Fire has burned through 152 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Cal Fire said four structures have been destroyed. Firefighters don’t know if the structures are homes, outbuildings or sheds.
The fire remains five percent contained. 250 firefighters have responded to the Bear Fire which started at 10:30 p.m. Monday near Bear Creek Canyon Road.
According to Cal Fire, five people have been injured battling the fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains. One inmate firefighter was being treated for smoke inhalation, another fell 30 to 50 feet down a ravine and three others were treated for minor injuries. The injuries included a broken wrist, another firefighter had a laceration, and one suffered a sprain.
13 handcrews are also on scene battling the Bear Fire. Three dozers, six water tenders and fire agencies from other areas of California are assisting.
Chief Rob Sherman said smoke in the air is making it hard to use more air support.
“We’re making good progress. We’ll be here today and tonight,” said Chief Sherman.
Road Closures: Bear Creek Canyon Road, Beatty Ridge Road, Favre Ridge Road, Dons Lane, Grizzly Rock Road, Hawks Ridge Road, Hartman Creek Road, Knuth Road, Mountain Lion Road, Las Cumbres Road, Miller Ridge Road, Oak Ridge Road, Old Vineyard Road, Rons Road, Shear Creek Road, Skyline Ridge Road.
Evacuation orders have been made for Deer Creek Road, Rons Road, Lost Valley Road, Favre Road, Dons Road and Oak Ridge. Cal Fire said if you feel in danger leave the area if it is safe to do so.
Evacuation centers have been set up at:
Zayante Fire, 7700 East Zayante Rd., Felton
Lakeside Elementary, 19620 Black Rd., Los Gatos
Road Closures- Hwy 9 @ Bear Creek Hwy 35 @ Bear Creek Hawk Ridge @ Bear Creek Deer Creek @ Bear Creek
KION will continue to update this article with the latest.
UPDATE: 10/17/2017 9:07 a.m. According to Cal Fire, five people have been injured battling the fire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Cal Fire said, most of the injuries are from slips and falls due to the steep terrain.
Firefighters were on scene the vegetation fire on Bear Creek Canyon Road early Tuesday morning.
Cal Fire Chief Rob Sherman said, one inmate firefighter was being treated for smoke inhalation, another fell 30 to 50 feet down a ravine and three others were treated for minor injuries.
The Bear Fire has destroyed one structure, which is where the origin of the fire started.
“There is likely additional structures burned in that area but we can’t confirm that at this time,” says Cal Fire officials.
Evacuation orders have been made for Deer Creek Road, Rons Road, Lost Valley Road, Favre Road, Dons Road and Oak Ridge. Cal Fire said if you feel in danger leave the area if it is safe to do so.
An evacuation center has been set up at Zayante Fire Station.
KION will continue to update this story as more details become available.
UPDATE 10/17/17 7:15 a.m.: The Bear Fire has grown to 125 acres. Two fire personnel have been injured. An inmate is being treated for smoke inhalation and a firefighter fell fifty feet down a cliff and reportedly has a broken wrist and cuts to his face.
Fire crews continue to battle the blaze that broke out overnight near Bear Creek Road near Boulder Creek. Santa Cruz County sheriff’s deputies have gone door to door to evacuate residents from the the following areas:
Bear Creek Canyon Road
Bear Creek Road
Deer Creek Road
Rons Road
Dons Road
Lost Valley Road
Favre Ridge Road
Oakridge Ridge Road
Las Cumbres Area
Highway 35 at Bear Creek
An evacuation center has been set up at Zayante Fire Station.
Cal Fire will attack the Bear Fire by air later this morning.
Our KION crew is on scene and will continue to monitor the fire’s progress throughout the day.
UPDATE 10/17/17 4:20 a.m.: The Bear Fire has grown to 100 acres.
Our KION crew is on scene and will continue to monitor the fire’s progress throughout the morning.
We will also have live updates on Wake Up.
UPDATE 10/17/17 2:45 a.m.: Per Cal Fire, crews are still working on evacuations.
A structure fire sparked the vegetation fire late Monday night.
KION has a crew on the way and will have a live update this morning.
BREAKING: Cal Fire crews are battling an approximately 10-acre fire on Bear Creek Road in Santa Cruz County.
Per Cal Fire, the fire is spreading at a moderate rate of speed uphill.
Residents in the area are being evacuated.
As of right now, Bear Creek Road and Deer Creek Road are closed.
KION is following the progress of the fire overnight and will update this article when more information is available.
