Firefighter Falls 50 Feet While Battling Santa Cruz County Fire
BOULDER CREEK (CBS/AP) - Authorities say five firefighters have sustained minor injuries while battling a blaze that sprang up late Monday in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Rob Sherman, division chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, says a firefighter slipped several dozen feet down a ravine and has face lacerations and possible wrist fracture.
An inmate firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation, and three other firefighters slipped in steep terrain.
Firefighter fell 50 ft. down hill fighting #bearfire . Rescue in progress using ropes. Broken wrist per Cal Fire. @CBSSF
— Sandra Osborne (@SandraOsborneTV) October 17, 2017
Sherman says the rugged terrain has been a challenge.
The fire is holding at 125 acres and evacuations of 150 homes are ongoing. The vegetation blaze was sparked by a house fire.
A cluster of wildfires have been burning in northern California for a week. The fires, the deadliest cluster in California history, have killed at least 41 people and destroyed nearly 6,000 homes.