Boulder Creek residents talk about the Bear Fire one year after it ignited

The difference between how the scenic mountains near Boulder Creek look now compared to how they looked this time last year is like night and day.

More than a thousand firefighters converged on the area exactly one year ago to try and contain the Bear Fire.

After 10 days and reaching 100 percent containment, nearly 400 acres had burned

“It was on Bear Creek Road but it was just one ridge away,” says Boulder Creek resident Kerri Malek. “So you were very concerned about embers traveling and that was the biggest thing.”

Malek lives about a mile and a half away from the danger the Bear Fire presented to the area.

“Any smell of smoke and everybody gets alert about it,” she adds. “Alert and concerned.”

The terrain of the mountains near Boulder Creek were flowing with heavy brush and timber. This added to the difficulty of putting out any flames which popped up.

Several firefighters were injured in the Bear Fire and 6 structures were badly burned.

Investigators believe the fire was started by Marlon Coy–a Boulder Creek man who had apparently been in a dispute with someone who lives near the origin of the fire.

Coy was caught and charged for apparently looting during the fire before investigators began hearing he may have been the one to actually start the fire.

He is facing multiple charges related to arson and grand theft. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for mid-November of this year.

Meanwhile residents say although the fire has long been put out, there’s still some discomfort they feel just a year after the flames kicked up.

“I would say otherwise it’s really difficult to feel totally comfortable until the rainy season comes.”