Buckhorn Fire

Latest News Updates
  • 100% Contained
  • 1 Acres
  • 1 County: Santa Cruz
Legend

Layers

Date Started
10/21/2026 1:41 AM
Last Updated
10/21/2026 1:43 PM
Cause
Under Investigation
Incident Maps and Reports
Incident Management Team
No team assigned
Location
Boulder Creek
[37.185817,-122.091967]
Reports
Status reports

Incident Updates

10/21/2026 11:22 AM
Watch as crews fell a 150-foot-tall redwood tree within the Buckhorn Fire footprint.
Several trees in the fire's interior continue to burn inside. These burning trees pose serious safety hazards to personnel nearby. Additionally, if a burning tree falls with active fire in its root system, it can spark new spot fires—even months after the main fire has been suppressed.
To mitigate these risks, firefighters safely fell hazardous trees holding residual heat and extinguish the root system. This critical work is a key part of the mop-up process in timber terrain.

Updated by: Public Information Officer

10/21/2026 10:37 AM
View larger image: Big trees

Firefighters on the Buckhorn Fire continue making steady progress today as ground crews focus heavily on mop-up operations along established containment lines.

A primary focus of today’s effort involves felling large, fire-damaged trees and snags that continue to burn internally. These hazardous trees pose a direct safety risk to personnel working on the line and present a potential threat of casting embers across control lines, which could spread flames into unburned vegetation.

CAL FIRE CZU crews and fallers are systematically evaluating and taking down these hazard trees to secure the perimeter and ensure the safety of all personnel on scene. Crews will remain in the area throughout the day to monitor hotspots, reinforce control lines, and extinguish residual heat.

Updated by: Public Information Officer

10/21/2026 1:50 AM
View larger image: Fire engine View larger image: Smoke and flames View larger image: Smoke and flames

Firefighters were dispatched at 10:19 p.m. to a fire in the timber in Boulder Creek. The Buckhorn Fire is contained at a half acre and holding within the control lines. 

No structures have been damaged and no injuries have been reported. Boulder Creek Fire, CAL FIRE/Santa Cruz County Fire Department all responded. San Jose Air 3 helicopter from the San Jose Police Department was near the area and assisted with locating the fire.

The cause is under investigation. 

Updated by: Public Information Officer

ALERTCalifornia Camera Feed

Resources Assigned

  • 1
    Helicopters
  • 6
    Engines
  • 1
    Water Tenders
  • 2
    Crews

Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.

Agency Information

Boulder Creek Volunteer Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Santa Cruz County Fire Department, San Jose Police Department

Social Media

The map layers provided are powered by Esri, Genasys, Perimeter and other potential resources, and are based on their respective data sources. The accuracy and reliability of the information are subject to the data provided by these platforms.