Firefighters from south monterey county fire protection district responded to a house fire early this morning in greenfield.  Flames erupted at the house on palm avenue shortly after 4 a.m.    5-people, (including an infant), were air-lifted to a santa clara county trauma center.   all of those victims were treated for cuts and burns ranging from moderate to major.   3-other-people escaped without injury.  Fire crews had the blaze extinguished in  45 minutes.  The cause is under investigation.  The red cross is helping the displaced find emergency shelter.

Firefighters from the Gilroy fire department have been sent to assist fire crews in northern California, battling a wildfire that has grown to more than 65-thousand acres.  Deemed the “chips fire,” the blaze has been burning near lassen national park since july 29^th.   It is so far 65-percent contained.  4-gilroy firefighters were sent to the scene Sunday, to replace 4-others that had been helping control the blaze.   The department also sent a specially-equipped engine that is designed to fight fires in steep, rough terrain.

A Gilroy man is being sought in connection with the shooting death of a 21-year-old man in july.  24-year-old Fernando minero is wanted for manslaughter.  Prosecutors declined to bring murder charges against minero, because he drove the victim to the hospital after allegedly shooting the man in the neck.  That man, martin rojas, later died from his injuries.  minero is the only suspect in the case.  Anyone with information about Fernando minero is encouraged to contact local authorities immediately.

Monterey county supervisors approved on tuesday a “local business preference,” that will give central coast businesses a slight advantage in bidding for county work.  Businesses in monterey, santa cruz, and san benito counties will be able to win contracts if they enter bids that are within 5-percent of non-local contractors.    Local businesses would be paid the full bid amount.  The vote was unanimous.  Supervisors also allocated about 3-point-6 million dollars to match a state grant to renovate monterey county jail.