California's Bear Fire In Santa Cruz Mountains Injures Firefighters, Prompts Evacuations

Five firefighters were injured battling a blaze along Bear Creek Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains Monday. The fire started that night, prompting evacuations around Boulder Creek.

Some 250 firefighters worked to contain the 125-acre Bear Fire. Five firefighters sustained moderate injuries, including one inmate firefighter, according to SF Gate. The difficult terrain of the area was partly to blame: one of the firefighters sustained facial lacerations along with a potentially broken wrist after falling up to 50 feet, Cal Fire Chief Rob Sherman said.

“We have crews actively working on this now,” Cal Fire spokeswoman Angela Bernheisel told local television station KTVU-TV Tuesday morning. “This is very steep, rugged terrain with difficult access.”

Air tankers and helicopters were deployed Tuesday in an effort to fight back the blaze.

“It’s still zero percent contained,” Cal Fire communications operator Scott Almand said at 8 a.m. local time Tuesday, according to The Mercury News. “And it’s still heading up the hill and still spreading. We expect it to grow but don’t know right now by how much.”

The fire began as a house fire but quickly spread to the surrounding land. As firefighters worked to put out the flames, residents in the surrounding areas were ordered to evacuate from their homes. People who lived along Rons Road, Dear Creek Road, Dons Road, Lost Valley Road, Favre Ridge and Oak Ridge were evacuated, while evacuation centers were set up in nearby schools and other buildings. At least 100 structures were threatened by the fire.

Forecasts predicted weather conducive to fighting the fires in the coming hours. Mild temperatures combined with decreased winds and average humidity should quell the spread somewhat.

“The winds are in favor of the firefighters,” said meteorologist Scott Rowe, according to The Mercury News.