Santa Cruz fire

Posted on August 15, 2009 by .
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Empire Grade Road closed at Felton-Empire / Ice Cream Grade Roads.

Lockheed Fire

A portion of Empire Grade Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains is closed due to the Lockheed Fire burning in Santa Cruz County. This road is a favorite among local cyclists, including me.

Theoretically, I can still do my Felton / Empire Grade / Santa Cruz ride — Empire Grade is open from Felton Empire / Ice Cream all the way down into the UCSC Campus. The smoke, however, is amazingly thick along Empire Grade, and it’s not healthy to breath this stuff.

The mountain bike trails from Big Basin to Wilder Ranch to Henry Cowell are also covered in smoke. I don’t know about the trails further south, but I hear the smoke is bad all the way down to Watsonville.

I hate to write this, but stay inside and save your lungs for a better day.

Cal Fire

Photos by Richard Masoner.



See also:

  1. Santa Cruz in 2012 Tour of California?
  2. Santa Cruz County railroad to enforce track trespass rules
  3. Momentum: Santa Cruz getaway
  4. Santa Cruz fire evacuations


  • Warren T

    You've had problems with smoke inhalation before, haven't you?

  • Warren T

    You've had problems with smoke inhalation before, haven't you?

  • Ron

    I guess this is the problem with living in California and around. Fires and potential hazards from it. Thankfully in NY we have none of those issues. Enjoy all seasons and live a merry life.

  • Ron

    I guess this is the problem with living in California and around. Fires and potential hazards from it. Thankfully in NY we have none of those issues. Enjoy all seasons and live a merry life.

  • Yokota Fritz

    @Warren — yep, you have a good memory. I made the mistake of riding through wildfire smoke before and nearly put myself in the hospital.@Ron — I considered moving to New York near where CT and Mass meet. My family and in laws are almost all west of the Mississippi, though, which is an important consideration.

  • Yokota Fritz

    @Warren — yep, you have a good memory. I made the mistake of riding through wildfire smoke before and nearly put myself in the hospital.

    @Ron — I considered moving to New York near where CT and Mass meet. My family and in laws are almost all west of the Mississippi, though, which is an important consideration.

  • bikesgonewild

    …ya…& there's something to the fact that you can ride a bicycle pretty much 365 out here w/out bundling up like polar explorer that has a certain appeal……good luck down there fritz…was wondering how that was affecting you folks…

  • bikesgonewild

    …ya…& there's something to the fact that you can ride a bicycle pretty much 365 out here w/out bundling up like polar explorer that has a certain appeal…

    …good luck down there fritz…was wondering how that was affecting you folks…

  • Yokota Fritz

    THanks BGW – it's just very very smoky in Scotts Valley. Everything smells like a campfire around here.

  • Yokota Fritz

    THanks BGW – it's just very very smoky in Scotts Valley. Everything smells like a campfire around here.

  • bikesgonewild

    …last i'd heard, this one was taking out a lotta property but wasn't threatening too many homes……although even one is way too many, especially if it's your own…

  • bikesgonewild

    …last i'd heard, this one was taking out a lotta property but wasn't threatening too many homes…

    …although even one is way too many, especially if it's your own…

  • Yokota Fritz

    I've had two house fires. Not too much fun.When I was at Safeway last Friday there was a guy griping loudly that he's been paying fire insurance for 40 years and he wishes he could cash in on it.

  • Yokota Fritz

    I've had two house fires. Not too much fun.

    When I was at Safeway last Friday there was a guy griping loudly that he's been paying fire insurance for 40 years and he wishes he could cash in on it.

  • bikesgonewild

    …"hmmm, ahhh, there seems to be a slight problem w/ yer fire insurance policy, sir…while yes, you have been paying into it for the last 40 years, it seems your last payment was late & while…yes, yes, sir, please, calm down, sir, & as i was saying, we did receive the payment, your policy was canceled for this month, the month of the fire & the late payment will go to reinstating your, ahhh, property next month……what's that, sir ???…well, let me take a quick look…no sir, there is nothing in yer policy covering heart attacks due to fires…sorry, sir, have a nice day"…

  • bikesgonewild

    …"hmmm, ahhh, there seems to be a slight problem w/ yer fire insurance policy, sir…while yes, you have been paying into it for the last 40 years, it seems your last payment was late & while…yes, yes, sir, please, calm down, sir, & as i was saying, we did receive the payment, your policy was canceled for this month, the month of the fire & the late payment will go to reinstating your, ahhh, property next month…

    …what's that, sir ???…well, let me take a quick look…no sir, there is nothing in yer policy covering heart attacks due to fires…sorry, sir, have a nice day"…