Memorial Day fires keep crews busy in Santa Cruz Mountains
Quick Take
Cal Fire reported 60% containment on the Hihn Fire, near Gazos Creek and North Escape roads in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, with the blaze at 3.41 acres in an update around 6:15 p.m. Monday. Earlier in the day, firefighters contained the Grade Fire fire, which grew to 7.5 acres near China Grade Road.
A fire burning in Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains was 90% contained as of Tuesday morning, with firefighters from several agencies responding to a blaze estimated at 3.41 acres in a 7:12 a.m. update.
The Hihn Fire, in the area of Gazos Creek and North Escape roads, is in the burn scar left by last summer’s CZU Lightning Complex fire. The cause is under investigation, per Cal Fire’s CZU Unit Twitter account.
Cal Fire’s CZU and SCU Units, Boulder Creek Fire Protection District, Bonny Doon Fire & Rescue and Santa Cruz County units were battling the fire, with a helicopter from the SCU Unit making drops on the blaze. The CZU Unit reported a slow rate of spread in an update shortly before 5 p.m.
It’s the second time in a month the area around the the Hihn Hammond Truck Trail has burned. On May 2, crews from Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond and Santa Cruz helped Cal Fire contain a blaze called the Basin Fire at 7 acres.
Earlier Monday, firefighters from Cal Fire and the Boulder Creek FPD contained the Grade Fire, which broke out near China Grade Road and spread to about 7.5 acres. That blaze came on the heels of a fire that sparked along Hecker Pass near Mount Madonna on Sunday morning before being contained by Cal Fire.
Crews responded to the wildfire near China Grade Road and North Butano Truck Trail around 9 a.m. This location was also within the burn scar of the CZU Lightning Complex fire.
Cal Fire declared the fire contained around 12:30 p.m. on Monday.
Check back for updates on this breaking story.
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