Santa Cruz County Public Safety Articles

The City of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley Fire Protection District, Central Fire District and the Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to conduct a Regional Fire Service Consolidation Feasibility Study. This study …

As April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Scotts Valley Police Department (SVPD) is emphasizing the crucial need for drivers to remain focused and vigilant on the road.

BOULDER CREEK, CA — In response to growing concerns from residents, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is launching a targeted enforcement campaign along Highway 9 to curb speeding and reckless driving. The initiative follows a recent Boulder Creek town hall …

A grassroots movement of citizens concerned about the construction of a new battery storage facility in Watsonville held a public meeting on Monday evening to discuss the dangers of such a project and rally local residents by passing around petitions …

FELTON, CA — A fire broke out Sunday night, April 13, 2025, around 10 pm at a small cabin and shed at the Bigfoot Discovery Museum Complex on Highway 9, prompting a swift response from local fire crews. The Felton …

Members of E. Clampus Vitus Branciforte Chapter 1797 helped out at Junction Park in Boulder Creek this past winter by putting up a safety fence. “Your efforts in enhancing safety and assisting our community are truly appreciated,” Boulder Creek Recreation …

Santa Cruz County supervisors in February. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo)

Proposed cuts by the Trump administration would be devastating for new mothers, children, immigrants, seniors and lower and middle class community members, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-19th District), who represents much of Santa Cruz County, told a packed town hall meeting …

Farmworkers handle tarps at a farm near Moss Landing in October 2024. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local file)
WATSONVILLE >> After five years of activism from Pajaro Valley residents and others across the state, California residents can now get …

A Minto Road apple orchard across from a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. substation has been proposed for a 14-acre lithium battery storage facility. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local) 
WATSONVILLE >> In the wake of the Moss Landing battery …

In response to growing concerns among families, health providers and educators about the rising fentanyl crisis, a collaborative effort is set to take place in Santa Cruz County.

Santa Cruz County Supervisors in February. (Marcello Hutchinson-Trujillo — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> Santa Cruz County Supervisors on Tuesday advanced rules to allow marijuana use in cannabis businesses outside the county’s four cities. The move would promote …

While cocktail bars are intended to be places where people go to play, the unfortunate reality is they can also be where predators come to prowl. But Santa Cruz is at the forefront of making bars safer by offering patrons …

More protected bike lanes were a top priority for residents surveyed by Santa Cruz Local. (Jay Leedy — Santa Cruz Local)
SANTA CRUZ >> Scores of residents reported feeling unsafe in Santa Cruz County while walking and biking in a …

The health departments of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties invite the public to participate in a community survey to gather information about potential health concerns related to the recent battery fires at the Vistra Moss Landing Energy Storage …

Close to 100 people gathered Saturday in Moss Landing to voice their concern and demand better information about the fire that tore through a battery storage facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant on Jan. 16

Two pile burns are tentatively planned for Feb. 10-12 in Ben Lomond and Scotts Valley on Land Trust of Santa Cruz County land and easement properties.

When wildfires threaten California communities, a viral lifeline has emerged: the Watch Duty app. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit, hailed by the Washington Post as “an essential app in LA for tracking wildfires,” has become indispensable for millions. With over 1 million …

Santa Cruz County health officers said bird flu has not shown up in the county, but residents should take precaution. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >>  At least 67 people have become infected with the H5N1 …

Lithium-ion batteries power everything from our smartphones to electric vehicles, but they also come with risks. In this episode of Talk of the Bay, Meilin Obinata sits down with Patrick Durham, a mechanical engineer and firefighter, to dive deep into …