A 4TH OF JULY ILLEGAL FIREWORK TOUCHED OF A BLAZE THAT DESTROYED SEVERAL VEHICLES IN SANTA CRUZ. SHORTLY BEFORE 10 P-M, AUTHORITIES WERE CALLED TO THE 2-HUNDRED BLOCK OF 1ST AVENUE, WHERE A CONTRABAND AERIAL TYPE OF FIREWORK HAD IGNITED A TREE. THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD TO 3 PARKED CARS AND A UTILITY POLE, BURNING PHONE LINES, AND DROPPING LIVE POWER WIRES INTO THE STREET. FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE WERE UNABLE TO WORK THE BLAZE UNTIL UTILITY CREWS COULD REACH THE GRIDLOCKED AREA AN HOUR LATER, TO CUT POWER TO THE DOWNED LINES. NO IJNURIES WERE REPORTED, THE CARS WERE TOTALED.
