The $2.4 million acquisition of the NoraBella property along Highway 236 is seen as a key step in the post-CZU fire recovery of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Wildfires
Posted inLatest News
California announces investigation into delayed evacuation orders during L.A.-area wildfire
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a civil rights investigation Thursday into how delayed evacuations affected a historically Black community ravaged by one of last year’s deadly wildfires in Altadena.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Fires burn swiftly, but insurance battles linger: New bills propose consumer-friendly regulations
As fire survivors continue to navigate life after disaster, California lawmakers roll out new bills attempting to further regulate insurance companies like State Farm.
Posted inLatest News
Prescribed burn scheduled into early February in Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
About 13 acres of forest along Santa Rosalia Ridge along Aptos Creek Fire Road will be the focus of a multi-day burn in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Fighting L.A. wildfires broke my heart but prepared me for life outside prison
“When people think of incarcerated people, they often see us as a danger, with our past mistakes magnified,” writes Jose Angel Amezcua, a formerly incarcerated firefighter from Salinas who helped battle the disastrous January 2025 blazes in the Los Angeles area. “Amid the smoke, ash, and destruction of the L.A. fires, people saw us as heroes, recognizing the good we could achieve when given a second chance.”
Posted inLatest News
Cal Fire plans prescribed burn Friday at Locatelli Ranch in Santa Cruz Mountains
Cal Fire is planning to burn an estimated 40 acres of grass, bushes and dead trees on Friday at Locatelli Ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains, if the weather conditions allow for it.
Posted inLatest News
Some county homeowners face proposed insurance rate hikes up to 50% as FAIR Plan struggles with fire risk
Nearly 11,000 Santa Cruz County residents insured through California’s FAIR Plan could face average fire insurance rate hikes of nearly 36% starting in 2026 as part of a statewide proposal submitted to the Department of Insurance.
Posted inLatest News
California State Parks plans prescribed burns at Wilder Ranch
California State Parks is planning to conduct prescribed burns at Wilder Ranch State Park over the next two weeks after the first significant rain event of the season.
Posted inSan Lorenzo Valley
San Lorenzo Valley Water District moves to protect water supply from wildfire
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District announced this week that it is taking action to create and conserve defensible space around dozens of water supply sites.
Posted inFood & Drink
From fire to fallout: CZU’s lasting impact on Santa Cruz County’s wine industry
When the CZU Lightning Complex fires tore through the Santa Cruz Mountains in 2020, vineyards survived the flames, but smoke taint ruined much of the harvest, forcing winemakers to dump spoiled wine and experiment with new styles like rosé and white pinot noir.
