As firefighters tame flames in a 375-acre wildfire burning in Mount Diablo State Park near Curry Canyon, they are also dealing with tarantulas. (Oh dear!) The firefighters, it seems, "also had to deal with tarantulas that are native to the hills," breathlessly reports KTVU. more ›

While containment is now at 65%, the mandatory evacuation for residents affected by the Bonny Doon wildfire in the Santa Cruz mountains has been lifted. All residents need to get back inside their home if proof of residency. Hurray! But that, of course, doesn't mean the blaze is over. According to KCBS / AP, "crews were unable to fight the blaze by air Sunday because of heavy smoke, but more than 2,100 firefighters made progress on the ground along the western and southern ends of the wildfire." As of today, the fire, which sparked last Wednesday, scorched 7,000 acres, injured five, and cost over $10 million in damages. more ›

Hundreds of residents have fled their homes after a Santa Cruz county wildfire in Bonny Doon started last night. According to CBS 5, "authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations for about 600 people on Last Chance Road, Swanton Road, Warrella Truck Trail and Rancho del Oso." (Although according to KRON 4 Morning News, said evacuations are voluntary) Evacuations center can be found at "Pacific Elementary School located at 50 Ocean St. in the community of Davenport, and the American Red Cross has established a shelter at Vintage Faith Church located at 350 Mission St. in Santa Cruz." So far, 2,300 acres have been consumed since the fire sparked a little after 7 p.m. last night. more ›

The U.S. Coast Guard and San Francisco/Marin firefighters are battling a blaze on the eastside of Angel Island, which was reported at 9 p.m. Sunday tonight. more ›

Oh noes! Things are moving to the beat of a big bushfire over in Castro Valley. It seems, according to CBS 5, a fire is roaring "near the intersection of Crow Canyon and Norris Canyon Roads in Castro Valley." One home has already caught on fire, and others are threatened. Gulp. more ›

Folks in Big Sur have been asked told to evacuate due to the uncontrollable wildfire still roaring through the Basin Complex. The mandatory evacuation will go into effect at 5 p.m. today. In addition to staying safe from the blaze, firefighters need residents out in order to perform "burning operations" in the area. Citizens in the Palo Colorado Canyon in Monterey have have been told to scram as well. But on the brighter side, the air quality in SF is much, much better. Not a hint of smoke in the air. Ahhh. more ›

This natural-color image of Northern California was captured on June 26, 2008, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite. Places where MODIS detected active fires are outlined in red. Thick smoke hangs over the Sacramento Valley, although the city of Redding is visible for the first time in several days.

You'd think the 1,000-plus wildfires blazing across Northern California would be our biggest concern. Not so. It seems that the Black Death is yet another thing we should fear, at least according to an alarmist article in the it is. The plague, "carried by fleas, mice, rats, squirrels, cats and other animals," was uncovered on San Bruno Mountain in the 1940s. Now, just after this week's San Bruno Mountain blaze, said creatures coming down off the mountain might kills us all. Eeps! Or so we're. The 14th Century bug that wiped out 75 million people in the days or yore infects up to five Californians per year these space-age days. But now? Maybe more!!! So, how will you bring out our dead? more ›

As particulate matter from the 850 wildfires has ruined our famously crisp and sought-after air in the Bay Area. On the plus side, though, it has made for some gorgeous sunsets. more ›

While only nine cities in the Bay Area allowed to sell "safe and sane" fireworks (i.e., sparklers, fountains, snakes, and flowers [psst, you can totally turn the latter into a mini bottle rocket by drilling a small hole in the end of the cylinder]), one of those cities, Watsonville, might curb their fiery Fourth of July fun. According to the Merc, a ban on the sale of fireworks in Watsonville might take place since the area has, well, pretty much been on ablaze for the last month or so. more ›

A fire has torched 75 to 100 at least 500 acres in Larkin Valley of Santa Cruz County between the Watsonville airport and Seascape Golf course, according to ABC 7. Also, parts of Highway 1 are currently closed in both directions in the area. (Northbound traffic, though, has been diverted at Miramonte Avenue and southbound traffic at San Andreas Blvd.) Evacuations have been orders for a few residences of the area. more ›

Just letting you know that the fire -- which as of late this afternoon has consumed thousands of acres since it started at around 5:30 a.m. this morning -- is "completely out of control" as of 4:30 p.m. San Francisco firefighters have been deployed to the scene. What with the serious winds blowing in the area, no one knows just when the fire will start to die down. Wineries have been lost, homes and school evacuated, and Arnold has declared a state emergency. more ›

For those of you with large animals (i.e., horses, emus, et al.) or even not so large animals (i.e., Sprinkles, et al.), a Capitola reader just informed us that you can take your beloved pets to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. more ›

Huge plumes of smoke can be seen mushrooming over the Santa Cruz Mountains just above Ben Lomand due to a rapidly growing wildfire. It's gone from 100 acres to well over 1,000 in just a couple of hours. The fire allegedly sparked at the intersection of Summit and Loma Prieta roads. more ›