SANTA CRUZ, CA -- A brush fire that erupted over the weekend in Santa Cruz County, prompting the closure of Highway 9, was 45 percent contained as of Monday evening. The blaze, which grew to 17 acres, was under investigation as more than 200 personnel worked to contain the fire.
CAL Fire said the fire was burning through heavy timber in a remote part of the region, prompting evacuations north of Paradise Park. At least one first responder was injured in the blaze.
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Forward progress of the Rincon Fire stopped as of Monday but the smoldering will require several days of "mop up," fire officials said.
The California Highway Patrol issued a Sig-alert for the Highway 9 closure between Golf Club Drive and Glengarry Road this morning. The county has issued a hard closure with barricades and the CHP is no longer working the scene, according to CHP Sgt. Jason Grimm. The closure is expected to last through today.
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No other information was immediately available.
--Bay City News contributed to this report/Shutterstock image
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