All Lanes Of Highway 9 Near Santa Cruz Still Closed Due To Fire
SANTA CRUZ (CBS SF/AP) -- California fire officials say a stretch of Highway 9 in Santa Cruz remains closed Monday as fire crews battle a blaze that injured a firefighter and is burning through heavy timber.
The Rincon Fire began burning around 9 p.m. Saturday evening and continues to burn.
At around 7:10 p.m. Monday evening, California Highway Patrol reported a severe traffic alert due to the blaze near Paradise Park. All lanes were closed in both directions between Glengarry Road and Golf Club Drive.
The highway was already impacted by the fire, but Monday evening's alert marked a complete closure.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the 17-acre (7-hectare) blaze is burning in a remote part of Santa Cruz County. It is 30 percent contained.
Cal Fire says crews have stopped the forward progress of the wildfire that started Saturday night but the blaze continues to hew through heavy timber, sending smoke and ask into the air.
It says the blaze prompted an evacuation advisory for the community of Paradise Park that remains in effect Monday.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports Paradise Park is a Masonic cottage community with about 400 residents.
© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
