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Wildfire Scorches Santa Cruz

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 15, 2009 6:16 AM CDT

(Newser) – The first major California wildfire of the season has consumed over 5,000 acres in Santa Cruz County and won't be fully contained for a week, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Over a thousand firefighters are battling the blaze in rugged terrain that hadn't had a major fire in over 50 years, and a hot, dry, windy weekend is expected to make their job tougher.

Firefighters, struggling to save buildings in woody areas, fear that the winds could turn the fire towards the community of Bonny Doon. Some 2,400 residents have been evacuated from the area but several hundred, including singer Billy Ray Martin, have vowed to stay put for as long as they can. Their plan, Martin's wife says, is to "get the hell out when the time comes."

Firefighters work to save a structure in Santa Cruz County, Calif., as fire approaches from behind. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Firefighters battle the Lockheed Fire as it threatens to jump a road in Santa Cruz County, Calif. yesterday. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A firefighter battles the Lockheed Fire as it threatens to jump a road in Santa Cruz County, Calif., yesterday. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

An air tanker drops fire retardant chemicals on the Lockheed wildfire which burns out of control in a rugged region of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Bonny Doon, Calif. (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Paul Chinn)

A firefighter watches as flames approach the Big Creek Ranch in Santa Cruz County, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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2 Firefighters Killed in Calif. Blaze

Pair drives off road as flames consume national forest

Calif. Fires Destroy Dozens of Homes

Santa Barbara under state of emergency as wildfires scorch hillsides

Calif. Firefighters Battle 2 Huge Blazes

Predicted heat wave will magnify 1,700 fires in Calif.

Emergency Declared in Calif. Fires

Blazes threaten more than 6,800 homes; better weather expected

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2K people still evacuated in Santa Cruz County

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

California • firefighters • wildfires • Santa Cruz • California wildfires

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

2 Firefighters Killed in Calif. Blaze

Pair drives off road as flames consume national forest

Calif. Fires Destroy Dozens of Homes

Santa Barbara under state of emergency as wildfires scorch hillsides

Calif. Firefighters Battle 2 Huge Blazes

Predicted heat wave will magnify 1,700 fires in Calif.

Emergency Declared in Calif. Fires

Blazes threaten more than 6,800 homes; better weather expected

Wildfires Tamed in Calif., Rage in NM

2K people still evacuated in Santa Cruz County

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Newser By Users

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