Santa Cruz mountains wildfire: Evacuation orders lifted

As of 8 a.m. Monday, Cal Fire will lift evacuation orders for areas near the Bear fire in the Santa Cruz mountains southwest of San Jose, as crews continue to make gains.

The fire on Bear Canyon Road, now a week old, was nearly 80 percent contained at 391 acres Sunday night, with 176 fire fighters working to get it under control, down from nearly 1,000 late last week.

According to the latest update on fire conditions, “Crews continue to establish and reinforce containment lines around the fire and conduct fire suppression repair. Hazards from fire weakened trees and steep inaccessible terrain continue to present major challenges.”

On Thursday, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that Cal Fire hopes to have the fire completely contained by Tuesday.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that Cal Fire should have all Sonoma County burns to the north contained by Wednesday, and evacuation orders expired for part of that region on Friday.

The latest Cal Fire map shows 11 other fires still active in Northern California, with five of them fully contained and all but one of the others at least 90 percent contained.

The Pocket Fire north of Geyserville is the fire still furthest from full containment (excepting the Beat Fire), only 87 percent hemmed in according to the latest updated Monday morning and burning at more than 17,000 acres.

• Fire Breaks Out Near Santa Cruz [Curbed SF]
• Bear fire update [Cal Fire]
• Bear Fire Holds [Sentinel]
• Sonoma Fires Contained Wednesday [Press Democrat]
• Fire Map [Cal Fire]