Wildland Fire North of Laurel curve on Highway 17

There is no evacuation needed at this time for the fire on highway 17 just North of Laurel curve. Cal Fire, Scotts Valley Fire and Loma Prieta Fire responded to a report of a motorcycle injury accident with the extension of fire into the vegetation. The fire was quickly suppressed. The injured patient was flown to a nearby trauma center via Lifeflight. Santa Clara County Fire assisted on the LZ.

Hutchinson Fire Out

There is no evacuation needed at this time for the fire at Hutchinson Road. The fire is out.

Cal Fire warns about illegal burns

September 24, 2007

Felton

Cal Fire warns about illegal burns

Cal Fire officials were warning residents not to conduct burns in their backyards after firefighters responded to several illegal burns on Sunday, including an expensive helicopter trip to a wooded area that county taxpayers will soon be billed for.

In all, there were an estimated dozen backyard burns in unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County throughout Sunday, said Bill Tomkovic, a fire captain in Felton's emergency command center for Cal Fire.

"People think that just because it rained that they can burn," he said. "But the fact is, summer isn't over just yet. It could get hot and some of these burns could smolder for a while, then start a huge fire, and nobody wants that"

The burn season doesn't start until Dec. 1, he said, adding it will last until April 30. Until then, only those who have an agricultural permit can burn.

The illegal burns, Tomkovic said, were reported in Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Zayante, Soquel, Loma Prieta and Corralitos.

In one incident, he said that a helicopter had to be dispatched to Redwood Lodge, a street just north of Soquel and south of Loma Prieta.

"People will be billed for the suppression cost," Tomkovic said.

You can find this story online at:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/September/24/local/stories/06local.htm
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Cutoff time at Lick Helitack, 1901 in the evening.

Crash Protection at Lick Helitack

Watertender 3651 waiting in the fuel line at base camp on the Lick Fire.