Officials suspect foul play for the second set of Pogonip fires
SANTA CRUZ >> Three fires sparked in the Pogonip area of Santa Cruz this weekend and investigators are narrowing in on the causes of the fires.
The first fire covered two acres near Spring Street on Friday night. First responders believe that fire was an accidental ignition caused by a camper within the park, according to Santa Cruz Deputy Fire Marshall Tim Shields.
“We are confident it was just a negligent warming or cooking fire,” he said.
However, two more fires that sparked later in the weekend appear to be more suspicious to investigators. After firefighters fully contained Friday night’s fire early Saturday afternoon, two more fires ignited near the Emma McCrary trail off of Golf Club Drive at 10:06 p.m. and 10:32 p.m.
While the cause of the two fires is still under investigation, firefighters are suspicious of the cause due to the ignition and the proximity between the two fires. Both were small fires roughly 200 yards away from each other along the trail.
“Those were suspicious in nature and we’re still investigating them,” Shields said.
Responders found the first fire in the lower meadow of the Emma McCrary trail. It was about 100 feet by 100 feet, according to Shields. The second fire was about 50 feet by 70 feet in size and was 200 yards down the trail. Fire crews were able to extinguish the fires promptly.
“We were actually able to contain these rather quickly. Crews did an amazing job,” Shields said.
The investigation could take a few days, depending on the number of leads firefighters need to follow, he added.