BOULDER CREEK — Firefighters battling the Bear Fire continued their efforts Monday as temperature jumped up into the 80s, Cal Fire spokeswoman Angela Bernheisel said.
The steep terrain is a major obstacle for the crews, who had the fire 85 percent contained on Monday. Full containment is expected Thursday.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, the blaze had grown to 391 acres and destroyed four structures.
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office are working to gather evidence in what might become an arson case, Sheriff’s Office officials said.
Across the state, some 10,000 firefighters are battling nine large wildfires, while more than 15,000 people evacuated.
The fires that have been burning in Sonoma and Napa counties since Oct. 8 have so far burned more than 107,000 acres and destroyed more than 6,800 structures.
At the Bear Fire, 92 firefighters continue to work the blaze. As of Monday evening, all Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office evacuations ordered were lifted, the Sheriff’s Office said.
