(Associated Press photo)
UPDATE 9 a.m. THURSDAY: The Bear Fire has now spread to 320 acres and is 30 percent contained.
ORIGINAL STORY:
BOULDER CREEK — More than 600 firefighters are battling a blaze in the Boulder Creek area, which has grown to more than 271 acres, Cal Fire spokeswoman Colleen Baxter said Wednesday.
The fire is casting a haze of smoke that has reached the Pajaro Valley.
Thus far, four structures have burned and six firefighters have been injured. About 150 homes are in danger of burning.
The fire is burning to the north, west and east in steep inaccessible terrain covered by drought-stressed fuels in heavy timber. Wednesday’s low humidity, combined with little to no night humidity recovery, is hampering control efforts.
Wednesday’s west winds of 2-5 mph were expected to increase to 8-10 mph later in the day.
More than 40 people have died in a rash of such fires around California and officials expect that number to go up in that 50 people are still missing.
The Boulder Creek blaze started at about 11 p.m. Monday in the area of 820 Bear Creek Canyon Road when a structure burned, but fire officials on Tuesday morning were unsure how that fire was sparked.
The fire is near Las Cumbres Road, otherwise known as Highway 35, which lies west of the Lexington Reservoir, Baxter said.
Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Clark said Wednesday a drone operator forced air command officials to cancel air attack aircraft for a short while for safety reasons. The Cal Fire aircraft were able to resume Wednesday morning.
Fire officials have evacuated residents from about 150 homes, which are uphill from the fire, Baxter said. The residents have sought shelter in Lakeside Elementary School in Los Gatos, Boulder Creek Elementary School and Zayante Fire Station.
Numerous roads have been closed throughout the Boulder Creek area.
“We ask people, if you are experiencing smoke, to stay inside, don’t go outside for a run or work out,” said Dave Frisbey, meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Monterey. “Avoid wood burning stoves, vacuuming, and mowing your lawn — because they stir up the ashes and dust. Now is a good time to stay indoors and cozy up on the sofa with a book.”
The Watsonville Municipal Airport served as an operations base for the Santa Cruz Mountains fire on Tuesday.
The airport established a refueling base north of the crosswind runway and ordered additional fuel in the morning in anticipation of the Cal Fire air support.
Airport staff also worked to prepare a special landing area on the airport property to accommodate multiple helicopters that were refueling and coordinated a total of four refuelings throughout the day, according to city officials.
The Watsonville Fire Department and Police Department also provided assistance Tuesday by sending a crew and engine to support the firefighting efforts, as well as two police officers.
