Firefighters battle Santa Cruz wildfire

WATSONVILLE, Calif., June 21 (UPI) -- California firefighters said Saturday they hoped to contain a 500-acre wildfire in Santa Cruz County, the latest of three serious fires there in recent weeks.

Officials said the fire appeared to have been intentionally set, perhaps by a passing motorcyclist, The San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported. The blaze broke out 2 p.m. Friday along California Highway 1 near Watsonville, Calif., and by 8:30 p.m. the fire was 50 percent contained, with no serious injuries reported.

Later Friday, Santa Cruz County issued a local emergency on the fire, which was dubbed the Trabing Fire. About 600 firefighters were mobilized, the third time such a call was issued in the county since late May.

A fire in Corralitos, Calif., destroyed 4,270 acres and burned 35 homes in late May, and a 520-acre blaze in Bonny Doon, Calif., destroyed three homes, the newspaper said.