County distributing thousands of N-95 masks to farmworkers
WATSONVILLE—The County of Santa Cruz announced Saturday that it has distributed thousands of N-95 masks—and plans to hand out thousands more—to farms across the Pajaro Valley to help protect farmworkers from hazardous smoke currently polluting the air.
Several fires across the Central Coast and greater...
Sheriff’s Office announces 1st death; fire now 13% contained
Update (Aug. 24, 7am):
The CZU Lightning Complex fire has burned 78,000 acres, or approximately 122 square miles, as of this morning, according to an update from Cal Fire. The fire is now 13% contained.
There were good opportunities to attack the fire yesterday, Cal Fire Operations...
Sheriff, DA warn looters and trespassers: stay away
SCOTTS VALLEY—Santa Cruz County’s chief law enforcement official, and its District Attorney, had a message for anyone thinking about burglarizing homes in evacuated communities: if you are caught, you will be arrested and prosecuted.
Law enforcement officials have increased their numbers by almost tenfold since...
Outdoor campers urged to relocate
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—With a Red Flag warning in place through Monday, possibly bringing erratic winds and dry lightning, the Santa Cruz County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is urging all evacuees of the CZU Lightning Complex fires currently staying outdoors in tents to seek refuge...
Donation center opens in South County; volunteers needed
Update (3pm, Aug. 24)
South Santa Cruz County residents seeking to make donations for those impacted by the CZU August Lightning Complex fires can now drop off items at a warehouse at 114 Walker St. in Watsonville.
The City of Watsonville is no longer accepting donations...
Weather gives firefighters a break; CZU Complex fires 5% contained
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Mother Nature is lending a hand in the fight against the CZU August Lightning Complex fires in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Mark Brunton said a much welcomed marine layer wandered into the Central Coast as the weekend got...
Todo lo que necesitas saber sobre los incendios de la Costa Central
Varios incendios están ardiendo en la Costa Central, forzando evacuaciones masivas en los condados de Santa Cruz, San Mateo y Monterey.
¿Dónde están?
Hay tres grandes incendios en nuestra región: el CZU August Lightning Complex, el River Fire y el Carmel Fire.
CZU August Lightning Complex
Estos incendios...
Firefighters get first ‘jump’ on CZU Complex fires
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Seven days into the battle against the CZU August Lightning Complex fires, Cal Fire officials announced Saturday morning that they were able to get their first “jump” on the growing blaze in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Although the fire overnight grew to 63,000...
Evacuation center at Lakeview Middle School opens
WATSONVILLE—An additional evacuation center for Santa Cruz County residents fleeing the CZU August Lightning Complex fires opened Friday night at Lakeview Middle School in Watsonville.
The center is a partnership between the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley Unified...
Deputies arrest 5 suspected looters as CZU Lightning Complex fires grow
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday arrested five people suspected of looting evacuated homes on Fall Creek Drive, a small community in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Felton.
Jose Gandarilla, Susana Luna, Crystal Araujo, Sara Loretz and Crystle Parstch-Lucchesi face numerous felony...
Monterey County Sheriff: ‘Bomb’ was lost computer
A suspicious bag left leaning against a California Highway Patrol vehicle in Prunedale Monday—which prompted a response from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad...
