CalFire confirms Estrada Fire burning near Watsonville is due to prescribed burn in the area
SANTA CRUZ, CO. (KION) UPDATE 8:14 P.M. 10/19/2021 Estrada fire is 90% contained. According to CZU, Firefighters continue to mop up and strengthen control lines along with suppression repair work.
SANTA CRUZ, CO. (KION) UPDATE 4:20 P.M. 10/18/2021 Estrada fire is 80% contained. According to CZU, Firefighters continue to mop up and strengthen control lines along with suppression repair work.
UPDATE 10:39 A.M. 10/17/21 CAL FIRE confirms that the Estrada Fire is 60% contained and that all evacuation warnings have been lifted.
12:47 P.M. 10/16/21 All evacuation orders in place for the Estrada Fire have been downgraded to evacuation warnings.
An interactive map of evacuation zones can be found here.
UPDATE: 6:20 P.M. 10/16/21 CAL FIRE confirms that containment of the fire has risen to 35% and has burned 148 acres. Crews will continue to work overnight to strengthen containment lines.
Cal Fire: Out of control prescribed burn caused Estrada Fire
UPDATE 10:13 A.M. 10/16/21 CAL FIRE says that the fire is 83 acres and 10% contained as of 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning.
An interactive map of evacuation zones can be found here.
UPDATE 7:56 P.M. 10/15/21: Cal Fire CZU has confirmed the Estrada Fire burning near Watsonville is the result of the Estrada Ranch Prescribed Fire.
That fire was scheduled to bring smoke for one or two days but has now turned into a 150 acre fire that broke containment lines Friday afternoon.
Crews have zero containment on this fire at this time.
UPDATE 7:22 P.M. 10/15/21: Cal-Fire CZU says 150 acres have burned in this wildfire burning East of Watsonville.
There are 30 engines dedicated to this firefight that is burning up oak, grass and timber.
Aircraft involved in this firefight have come down for the night and so far there is no containment on this fire.
CalFire says they could not comment if this fire started due to a containment line being breached from a prescribed burn, but did confirm there was a prescribed burn in the area.
UPDATE 5:56 P.M. 10/15/21: Cal Fire CZU confirms they're battling a 40 acre fire burning between Watsonville and Morgan Hill.
A woman who claims to be a property owner in the area says it all started after a controlled burn went wrong on her property.
CalFire CZU confirms evacuation orders are in place for those who are in parts of the Pajaro Area. a portion of the summit area is under evacuation warnings.
These areas are noted in Santa Cruz County's evacuation zone site found by clicking here
The evac warnings is for the Pajaro area west of Mount Madonna County Park.
A community resource location is being set up at the Corralitos Community Center according to Santa Cruz County.
The county says they're working on accommodations for those with animals, which will likely be at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds.
Here's a definition of Evacuation warnings and how they compare to an evacuation order.
Evacuation Warning: Potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.
Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
ORIGINAL STORY
CAL FIRE CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit is responding to a fire above Hazel Del Road between Watsonville and Morgan Hill.
Additional crews are in route to the fire reported at about 4:30 p.m. Equipment and aircraft are on scene.
A cause is under investigation at this time.
