DAVENPORT — A weekend fire in North Santa Cruz County burned through a couple of acres of dried grassland and coastal groves before firefighters managed to rein in the blaze within two hours.
Crews with Cal Fire’s CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit were called at 4:21 p.m. Sunday to a fire that had erupted off of northbound Highway 1 near the Davenport Cement Plant. Multiple fire engines, water tenders, hand crews and a 614 helicopter with Cal Fire’s Santa Clara unit were all quickly ordered as part of the multi-pronged response.
However, no structures were threatened and the crews managed to tamp down the fire fast enough to nullify the need for aerial reinforcements. The helicopter was canceled before it had a water drop opportunity, but a temporary closure in both directions of Highway 1 near Davenport Landing Road was still instituted while firefighters doused the flames with water hoses.
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According to a Cal Fire social media post, the incident, known as the Landing Fire, was contained within 90 minutes and was limited to 2 acres. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Cal Fire was supported in its response effort by crews from the Santa Cruz Fire Department, Central Fire District and California Highway Patrol’s Santa Cruz unit.
The Landing Fire also arrived with California’s fire season in full swing. Firefighters with Cal Fire’s CZU unit were also mobilized as part of Strike Team 9175G that continues to fight the ongoing Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. According to a Monday social media post from Cal Fire, the fire had surpassed 100,000 acres as of Saturday and workers were assisting with control lines, operational support and fuel reduction efforts.
The Gifford Fire is one of several across the state that Cal Fire CZU is working to combat, though the agency noted on social media that it continues to maintain proper levels of local personnel for coverage in Santa Cruz County.
In San Benito County, the Panoche Fire is 85% contained after burning 423 acres since it started Thursday.
