Calif. firefighters battling wildfire run into hornets' nest

The Monterey County Herald MediaNews

SOQUEL, Calif. — Firefighters trying to stop a small wildland blaze from moving uphill toward homes ran into a hornets' nest — literally — Tuesday evening, the Central Fire Protection District reported.

The wildland fire ignited in a eucalyptus grove off Soquel Drive near Greenbrae Lane around 9:30 p.m. To reach the flames, fire crews had to climb down a steep hill and get past a hornet nest, according to Central Fire spokesman Mike DeMars.

The fire was contained and did not damage any homes, but three firefighters were stung by hornets in the process, DeMars reported.

Crews from Central Fire and Cal Fire were on scene for about 75 minutes. Some firefighters returned around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday when hot coals rekindled, according to fire officials. It took firefighters about 70 minutes to knock down the flames and cool off the area the second time around.

In total, the fire burned about a quarter-acre, DeMars said.

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