EVACUATIONS LIFTED IN SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
Firefighters increase their control over the blaze, but high temps are in the forecast
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY » All remaining evacuation orders for residents in the vicinity of the Bear Fire were lifted Monday as firefighters steadily increase their control over the blaze, but remain vigilant with dry heat and moderate winds in the forecast.
Affected residents should still expect periodic road closures as Cal Fire personnel continue mopping up the fire and reinforcing containment lines.
“We’re hoping to have more good news tonight,” Cal Fire spokeswoman Angela Bernheisel said, “and put this whole thing to bed.”
But the 176 firefighters still working the fire as of Monday — about a fifth of the peak deployment seen last week — aren’t out of the woods yet, so to speak, with temperatures in the region expected to reach the 90s, coupled with low humidity and winds as fast as 7 mph.
“We still have work to do,” Bernheisel said.
As of Monday morning, the fire had burned 391 acres and was 85 percent contained. The number of structures destroyed remained steady at four, a tally that includes at least one home.
Two more firefighter injuries were reported Saturday, involving minor lacerations. In all, nine firefighters suffered injuries battling the Bear Fire, many of them related to the steep terrain. None of the injuries are believed to be serious.
All that said, the gravity of the fire — as well as the historically destructive fires in the North Bay — apparently had not sunk in with all of the Santa Cruz Mountain residents.
Sunday night, Cal Fire crews found themselves dealing with a new fire near the Bear Fire zone, after someone improperly dumped hot ashes along Mountain Lion Road near Las Cumbres, which was one of the evacuated communities. The fire was put out before it could spread, but it left many weary fires incredulous.
“It started from carelessness,” Bernheisel said. “It didn’t go anywhere, but it had a lot potential if we hadn’t been able to respond quickly. People need to be careful.”
Residents were allowed to return to their homes on Deer Creek Road, Hartman Creek Road, Dons Lane, Rons Lane, and Bear Creek Canyon Road.
A 30-acre property on Bear Creek Canyon Road with a history as a chop shop is where authorities believe the Bear Fire began, though an official cause has not been announced. Neighbors said that in the days before the fire, they noticed an increase in the frequency of gunfire seemingly coming from there.
After the fire cleared that site last week, the property was a litter of charred vehicles, a bulldozer, tires, garbage and burnedout appliances.
“It started from carelessness. It didn’t go anywhere, but it had a lot of potential if we hadn’t been able to respond quickly. People need to be careful.” — Angela Bernheisel, Cal Fire spokeswoman