Wildfire ignites Friday in Santa Cruz Mountains
The wildfire, named the Hermon Fire, grew to 2 acres by 12:38 p.m. and is 50 percent contained, Cal Fire said.
The fire has a slow rate of spread, according to Cal Fire. No structures are currently threatened.
A Cal Fire air support helicopter is on scene, and one firefighting hand crew has been dispatched, fire officials said.
Mt Hermon Road is closed between Conference Drive and Lockwood Lane due to the fire, according to the California Highway Patrol. People are advised to avoid the area if possible.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
22 minutes ago
- New York Post
Giant ‘Madre Fire' surges across 35,000 acres in Southern California, becoming the states largest wildfire this year
A rapidly spreading wildfire in Southern California quickly became the state's largest fire of the year after igniting on Wednesday, leading to evacuations. The Madre Fire sparked on Wednesday around 1 p.m. along Highway 166 in New Cuyama in San Luis Obispo County. Hours after starting, the fire had consumed 9,000 acres. By Thursday morning, the fire had surged to more than 35,500 acres as firefighters on the ground and in the air attempt to suppress the blaze. Advertisement Evacuation orders are in place for multiple zones in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties near Highway 166. The highway remains closed for firefighting efforts, according to San Luis Obispo County Government officials. About 50 structures are threatened by the fire, according to CAL Fire. On Tuesday night, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation warning east of the Rock Front Area, west of Cottonwood Canyon Road and south of Highway 166. 'Residents should prepare to leave at a moment's notice,' the sheriff's office said. Advertisement 3 The rapidly spreading Madre Fire in Southern California quickly became the state's largest fire of the year. Cal Fire/FOX Weather 3 Hours after starting, the fire had consumed 9,000 acres, and by Thursday morning, it had surged to more than 35,500 acres. Cal Fire/FOX Weather 3 Evacuation orders are in place for zones in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties near Highway 166, with the highway remaining closed for firefighting efforts. Cal Fire/FOX Weather Advertisement Fire behavior is being driven by hot, dry and windy conditions. Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said breezy conditions will continue on Thursday, and northerly Sundowner winds are likely to return Friday night and into the weekend. Gusts between 25 and 45 mph are likely, with localized gusts of up to 50 mph. Smoke from the Madre Fire is creating a significantly smoky sky for the Cuyama Valley and is forecast to drift over Santa Barbara and western portions of Ventura County. Smoke could be visible over parts of Los Angeles County on Thursday.
an hour ago
Madre Fire in California explodes to more than 35,000 acres overnight, evacuation orders issued
A wildfire exploded overnight in California, with the massive blaze prompting evacuation orders and a highway closure. The Madre Fire ignited Wednesday afternoon in San Luis Obispo County, according to Cal Fire. It has since grown to more than 35,500 acres and is 5% contained as of Thursday morning, fire officials said. The fire -- the largest in California so far this year, according to Cal Fire data -- is burning in a largely rural area in the Los Padres National Forest near Highway 166, officials said. Evacuation orders have been issued near Highway 166 in San Luis Obispo County. The highway is closed from U.S. 101 near Santa Maria to Perkins Road in the New Cuyama area of Santa Barbara County, according to the California Department of Transportation. Approximately 50 structures are threatened, according to Cal Fire. Officials warned that the fire has a high rate of spread. "With the current weather, terrain, and fuel conditions this fire has seen exponential growth in less than 24 hours in multiple counties surrounding the San Luis Obispo County area," the U.S. Forest Service - Los Padres National Forest said on social media. "Smoke impacts will be far-reaching." The cause of the wildfire is under investigation.
2 hours ago
Wildfire explodes to over 35,000 acres overnight in California
The Madre Fire ignited Wednesday afternoon in San Luis Obispo and is 5% contained as of Thursday morning, according to Cal Fire.
