Santa Cruz sheriff arrests suspect accused of stealing wallet from firefighter battling CZU Lightning Fires
Brian Lee Johnson, 37, of Live Oak allegedly confessed the crime to investigators.
Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff announces arrest into suspect who stole firefighter's wallet
The sheriff made the announcement at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2020.
'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.
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.”
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.
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
Cal Fire says CZU August Lightning Complex 'looking really good'
In not so good news, 538 structures have been destroyed, and all but 11 of those were in Santa Cruz County.
At least seven missing in Santa Cruz fire
The massive CZU Lightning Complex fire has ravaged Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. Many residents have evacuated and are safe. But others are missing.
The army of volunteers keeping first responders fueled up on the frontlines
“We’re here to provide meals for first responders and those that are evacuated,” said Tim Kilcoyne, Director of Chef Operations, World Central Kitchen.
Veteran firefighter loses everything in CZU Complex Fire while protecting homes from another blaze
A firefighter who helped protect homes from one wildfire came home to find his own home burned by another blaze.
Containment grows, Cal Fire crews remain positive about CZU August Lightning Fire
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton said that cities including Boulder Creek and Davenport were doing quite well in terms of the firefight, and overall, the acreage burned remained about 78,600 acres, about the same as the day before.
Girls make treats, cards for firefighters battling California wildfires
"If we didn't have to worry about this coronavirus I'd give you a big hug," one of the firefighters said. "How about an air high five."
San Jose firefighter loses his own home while battling CZU blazes
A second-generation San Jose firefighter now knows what it's like to have battled fire and to be a wildfire victim. He purchased his home in Bonny Doon last year, but the CZU Lightning Complex wildfire has destroyed it.
Some optimism in the CZU Lightning Complex fire battle
As of Monday night, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains has burned more than 78,000 acres. Containment remains at 13 percent. Cal Fire said 276 structures are destroyed and another 2,500 structures are still threatened.
Sheriff's department releases photos of man suspected of stealing firefighter's wallet
The Santa Cruz County sheriff's office has shared photos of a suspect accused of stealing a firefighter's wallet while he was combating the CZU Lightning Complex Fire.
CZU August Lighting Complex Fire: Favorable weather helps firefight in Santa Cruz County
"We are confident these lines are going to hold," said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton.
Some Bonny Doon residents refuse to evacuate, stay behind to save their homes
It’s not something Cal Fire or law enforcement condones, but with limited official resources, the residents say they felt like they had to do something.
70-year-old man found dead; wildfires rage through Northern California
The Santa Cruz fire is one of three “complexes,” or groups of fires, burning on all sides of the San Francisco Bay Area. All were started by lightning.
Crews brace for high winds, thunderstorms in Bay Area fire fight
Forecast expects high temperatures, low humidity and wind gusts up to 65 mph that "may result in dangerous and unpredictable fire behavior."
Santa Cruz Co. Sheriff investigating theft from fire commander
Sara Zendehnam reports.