Firefighters are battling a 125 acre fire off Bear Creek Rd, SW of San Jose (San Mateo Co). #BearFire Evacs in place https://t.co/p4pDI6YQyb pic.twitter.com/zPMdCHL7Wh
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) October 17, 2017
A new wildfire broke out over night in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the vicinity of Bear Creek Canyon Road, and it's been named the Bear Fire. It quickly grew to 125 acres after sparking around 10:30 p.m. Monday as a structure fire, spreading to the wilderness around it, as ABC 7 reports, and prompting a door-to-door evacuation effort early Tuesday morning that includes the roads listed below.
NBC Bay Area has several photos of towering flames overtaking the dense forest in the area.
MORE: Evacuations taking place in several areas of Santa Cruz Mountains for #BearFire https://t.co/nOmmTNvoPB pic.twitter.com/g0e9SlXrgP
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) October 17, 2017
Fire fighters discuss flames in Santa Cruz Mountians. 125 acres burning with a moderate spread. Evac orders in place. pic.twitter.com/lW447k4exv
— sandra osborne (@SandraOsborneTV) October 17, 2017
CBS 5 reports that 30 fire crews have responded to the area already, but Assistant Cal Fire Chief Rob Sherman tells the station that they are having "access issues" to some very rugged and steep terrain.
One firefighter was injured Monday night in the battle, as NBC Bay Area tells us, injuring a wrist and suffering facial lacerations after falling into a ravine. And now the Chronicle reports that a total of five firefighters have been injured as of Tuesday morning, with "at least four homes" already destroyed. As of 9 a.m., the fire had been 5 percent contained.*
More on this fire as we learn it, and as crews continue to contain fires across the North Bay.
Fire spreading by climbing valley walls now, lack of wind means chimney effect only influence. Light winds later today. #BearFire pic.twitter.com/bJiz6TYmaY
— Mike Nicco (@MikeNiccoABC7) October 17, 2017
* This post has been updated to include new information about injuries and homes destroyed.