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

'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. 

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

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.”

“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.”

SCU Lightning Complex: Fire crews reach 35% containment

SCU Lightning Complex: Fire crews reach 35% containment

A total of 20,000 structures remained threatened and 26 structures were destroyed or damaged. No one has died in this series of blazes, considered to be California's largest complex of fires in state history. 

A total of 20,000 structures remained threatened and 26 structures were destroyed or damaged. No one has died in this series of blazes, considered to be California's largest complex of fires in state history. 

Christmas tree farm damaged in wildfire

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.

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

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

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

California wildfires devour the equivalent of Delaware; vary in size and devastation

California wildfires devour the equivalent of Delaware; vary in size and devastation

Yet still, more than a week after lightning strikes sparked wildfires across the state, their efforts were paying off, and the nature of the fires varied in size, destruction and death tolls. 

Yet still, more than a week after lightning strikes sparked wildfires across the state, their efforts were paying off, and the nature of the fires varied in size, destruction and death tolls. 

CA's chief educator says 45 school districts located in evacuation areas

CA's chief educator says 45 school districts located in evacuation areas

Many schools across the state have already kicked off the new school year with distance learning, but and just as students were settling into the "new normal" wildfires erupted. 

Many schools across the state have already kicked off the new school year with distance learning, but and just as students were settling into the "new normal" wildfires erupted. 

Weather, reinforcements helping in California wildfire fight

Weather, reinforcements helping in California wildfire fight

“Every percent of containment is hours and hours of sweat and blood up on those lines,” Jonathan Cox, a deputy chief with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said Tuesday evening.

“Every percent of containment is hours and hours of sweat and blood up on those lines,” Jonathan Cox, a deputy chief with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said Tuesday evening.