WATSONVILLE—A prescribed burn that got out of hand near the southern border of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties has scorched at least 150 acres as of late Friday, the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) said.
Cal Fire CZU at 8:41pm said that it had surrounded the Estrada Fire with retardant and that the blaze had “died down” but that “crews will be working throughout the night to strengthen direct control lines.”
Cal Fire said on its website that it had 0% containment on the blaze as of 8:56pm.
The agency confirmed the fire was a result of a prescribed burn at nearby Estrada Ranch that should have finished up by 4pm. But the confirmation came some three hours after residents in the Watsonville foothills east of Hazel Dell Road up to Summit Road were asked to evacuate by Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies just before 6pm.
The evacuation orders were still in effect as of 9pm.
The prescribed burn at Estrada Ranch was announced Thursday by Cal Fire CZU. It was part of the agency’s Vegetation Treatment Program and was intended to reduce “fuels” in the area, according to a press release.
Temperatures in Watsonville reached 87 degrees Friday, and the heat was expected to stick around Saturday.
The Red Cross established an evacuation center at the Corralitos Community Church, 26 Browns Valley Road.
Evacuees who need assistance with evacuation or other issues, including requesting assistance with animal evacuation, are asked to call 831-454-2181.
Photos of the fire and smoke visible from Watsonville flooded social media starting around 3:40pm.
Cal Fire CZU said it had “multiple ground and air resources” on the scene but has not released any additional information about how the prescribed burn ignited the Estrada Fire.
UPDATE (6pm, Oct. 22)
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has ordered evacuations for residents east of Hazel Dell Road up to Summit Road, Cal Fire’s San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit said.
Cal Fire CZU said the fire is now 40 acres.
Original story
WATSONVILLE—A wildland fire ignited Friday evening between Watsonville and Morgan Hill above Hazel Dell Road, the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) said.
“We have equipment and aircraft on scene, with additional resources en route,” the Cal Fire CZU Twitter account posted around 4:30pm. “Cause under investigation at this time.”
Calls into the Cal Fire CZU office asking for details about the incident were not returned as of 5pm.
Photos of the fire and smoke visible from Watsonville flooded social media starting around 3:40pm.
The wildland fire occurred on the same day and in the general vicinity in which Cal Fire CZU had planned a “prescribed burn” at Estrada Ranch. That burn was part of the agency’s Vegetation Treatment Program and was intended to reduce “fuels” in the area.
