Cal Fire Contains Big Basin Blaze Tuesday: SEE

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — The Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit announced Tuesday that a blaze burning in Big Basin Redwoods State Park was contained at nearly 12 acres.

The Sandy Fire was discovered Monday evening and burned in duff, or forest litter, within the burn scar of last year's CZU August Lightning Complex fires — the most destructive in Santa Cruz County history.

CONTAINED: #SandyFire, that burned within #CZULightningComplex footprint in #BigBasin is contained at 11.75 acres. Crews will continue mop up throughout the day. These pictures show how much duff, or forest litter is still on the forest floor within last years burn perimeter. pic.twitter.com/HXxIXcHN1t
— CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) June 8, 2021

As helicopters dropped water on the flames of the Sandy Fire Friday, Cal Fire also responded to a small fire in a wooded area of neighboring San Mateo County, which was contained at a fraction of an acre.

Firefighters planned to remain at the scene of the Sandy Fire Tuesday to continue efforts to fully extinguish the blaze.

CAL FIRE CZU is trying to make access to a creeping ground fire in the #BigBasin area. The #SandyFire is 3 to 5 acres, and well-within the #CZULightningComplex burn. Copter 106 from @calfireSCU will be making water drops. #SandyFire pic.twitter.com/ypSwWxsDu0
— CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) June 8, 2021

Meanwhile in the city of Santa Cruz, fire safety was also on the minds of local firefighters who warned of the use of sky lanterns after learning they were recently used at a local beach.

Sky lanterns, made of flammable materials, don't always fly out to sea and are illegal in the Golden State, firefighters wrote. The lanterns have previously flown into the trees of neighboring Santa Cruz homes years ago and could travel to areas where they might spark fire.

"Fire season in California is all year now," the city's fire department wrote.