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Updates & Resources:Inciweb incident Information: UpdatesMonterey County Emergency Services: InformationThose affected by wildfires can apply for disaster assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov, downloading the FEMA app or calling (800) 621-3362.Note: This page below also includes archived stories from past fire coverage.

More Evacuations For Bear Fire In Santa Cruz Mountains

Click here for more recent updates.

Update 1:30pm:  The Bear Fire has grown to 200 acres and is still 5% contained.  150 homes are threatened.  

Update 12:00pm:  The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office has increased the evacuation areas for the Bear Fire.    

On the Bear Creek side of the fire, areas under evacuation include Bear Creek Canyon, Sunset Ridge, Hartmen Creek, Lost Valley, Golden Ridge, Hawk Ridge, Don's Road, Ron's Road and Double Bear.

On the Lost Cumbres side of the fire, areas under evacuation include Los Cumbres, Favre Ridge, Beatty Ridge, Grizzly Rock, Miller Ridge, Reed Knoll Road, Knuth, Skyline Boulevard (1/2 east of the closure), Oak Ridge and Skyline Ridge.

The fire is 152 acres and 5% contained.  Four structures have burned and five firefighters injured.

Update 9:00am: An overnight house fire triggered a wildfire now burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  The Bear Fire is east of Boulder Creek and west of the Lexington Reservoir.   As of 9:00 this morning, it had grown to 150 acres and was 5% contained.

CalFire Public Information Officer Colleen Baxter says they are expect wind not to be a big problem today.  They’re predicted to be just 5 to 10 miles an hour.

300 firefighters are on the scene with more on the way.  Air tankers and helicopters are also helping in the fight. 

Evacuation orders are in effect for Deer Creek Road, Rons Road, Dons Road, Lost Valley Road, Favre Ridge and Oak Ridge.  About 150 homes are threatened. 

Evacuation centers are set up at Lakeside Elementary School in Los Gatos and the Zayante Fire station in Felton.

Krista joined KAZU in 2007. She is an award winning journalist with more than a decade of broadcast experience. Her stories have won regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and honors from the Northern California Radio and Television News Directors Association. Prior to working at KAZU, Krista reported in Sacramento for Capital Public Radio and at television stations in Iowa. Like KAZU listeners, Krista appreciates the in-depth, long form stories that are unique to public radio. She's pleased to continue that tradition in the Monterey Bay Area.
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