Setback battling CZU Lightning Fire as flames moved underground

Experts said extremely dry conditions below the surface allowed the fire to spread 1,000 acres along the only escape route available.

Three missing men found in Santa Cruz County

Authorities asked anyone with information of their whereabouts to call the sheriff’s office at 831-471-1121. 

Air Force sergeant pleads not guilty to murder of Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy

Steven Carrillo, who officials say is associated with the extremist anti-government “boogaloo” group, entered the plea in the June 6 death of Santa Cruz Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller in Ben Lomond.

'Sickening': Firefighter has wallet stolen, bank account drained during Santa Cruz fire fight

Cal Fire Operations Chief Mark Brunton called the act "saddening" and said it's the last thing crews should have to experience while they're battling out of control fires with limited resources. 

Neighbors with hoses target fires as crews urge them to stop

“People are frustrated with the lack of resources available. People are always going to try to sneak back in, but it sounds like this is growing to a new level,” said Ken Pimlott, who retired as director of the Cal Fire in 2018. “I haven’t seen people re-engage to this scale, particularly with the level of organization.”

Christmas tree farm damaged in wildfire

Flames from the CZU Lightning Fire has destroyed years of hard work planting Christmas trees on a beloved farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Owners of the Crest Ranch in Bonny Doon plan to rebuild after losing a majority of their inventory.

Fire officials hope gains on CZU Complex Fire allows for some evacuees to return home soon

Containment continues climbing by roughly five percentage points every two days. This, as firefighters work to remove potential fire fuel before it can catch fire

At least seven missing in Santa Cruz fire

​​​​​​​The massive CZU Lightning Complex fire has ravaged Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. Many residents have evacuated and are safe. But others are missing.

The army of volunteers keeping first responders fueled up on the frontlines

“We’re here to provide meals for first responders and those that are evacuated,” said Tim Kilcoyne, Director of Chef Operations, World Central Kitchen.

Containment grows, Cal Fire crews remain positive about CZU August Lightning Fire

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton said that cities including Boulder Creek and Davenport were doing quite well in terms of the firefight, and overall, the acreage burned remained about 78,600 acres, about the same as the day before.