Editor’s Note: This is the latest CalFire incident report for the CZU Lightning Complex Fires (Including Warnella Fire) as of Sunday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. Visit www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/17/czu-lightning-complex-including-warnella-fire for the most current information.
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Tents are set up for fire crews outside the Scotts Valley Senior Center Wednesday, Aug. 19. ● Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
Firefighters are aggressively taking suppression action on the CZU Lightning Complex. The fire continues to burn in Southern San Mateo County and Northern Santa Cruz County. The fires continue to actively burn above the marine layer in the heavy timber and thick undergrowth.
Several communities have been evacuated; please refer to the list of Evacuation Centers at the bottom of this update. Fire activity may dictate more evacuations and road closures in the days to come.
Continued hot and dry weather is forecasted for the remainder of the weekend and into next week. Projected weather for Sunday includes a fire weather watch through Tuesday for dry lightning and dangerous outflow winds.
Damage Inspection Teams have begun to survey areas where fire activity has diminished and it is safe to do so. The number of destroyed structures reflected may change as teams continue to make progress.
Firefighting resources are limited due to the number of fires burning throughout California. Limited visibility due to smoke is hampering aircraft operations.
Approximately 77,000 people have been evacuated.
Due to the CZU Lightning Complex Fire and forecasted weather conditions the following closures are effective beginning Sunday August 23 until further notice:
- All of Soquel Demonstration State Forest is closed.
- The portion of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park north of Sand Point on Aptos Creek Fire Road to Buzzard Lagoon Road including the trails in this portion of the park are closed.
- The portion of the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park including Hinkley Basin and Hinkley Basin Fire Rd. from Sand Point to Olive Springs Rd.
There are currently no evacuation warnings for Santa Cruz or San Mateo Counties at this time.
EVACUATION ORDERS FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
- Waterman Gap Loop, Upper HWY 236, Boulder Creek Golf Course, Heartwood Hill, Lodge Road, Community of Little Basin, Lower China Grade, Upper China Grade, Community of Kings Hwy, Lower Jamison Creek, Gallion Heights, Fallen Leaf Neighborhood, Foxglove Lane (Zones CRZ10, CRZ13, BOU36, BOU20, BOU30, BOU31, BOU36, BOU37, BOU21)
- Saratoga Toll Road, San Lorenzo Park, Riverside Grove-Community of Teilh Drive, Wildwood Road (BOU38, BOU39, BOU40, BOU41, BOU42, BOU43)
- Everyone on Empire Grade Road, from Felton Empire north, all of Pine Flat Road, all of Ice Cream Grade, Bonny Doon Road, in between Pine Flat Road, Martin Road, and all associated side streets are under an evacuation order. (CRZ1, CRZ2, CRZ3, CRZ4, CRZ5, CRZ10, CRZ11, CRZ12, CRZ13, CRZ14, CRZ15)
- Bonny Doon south of Ice Cream Grade, to include Pine Flat Road South is now under an evacuation order. (CRZ7, CRZ8)
- Areas of Alba Road, Hubbard Gulch and Fanning Grade. (BEN 1)
- All areas of Ben Lomond (Zones BEN 2 – BEN 5)
- The area of Lompico (Zones ZAY 11, ZAY 12)
- All areas adjacent to the Bonny Doon and San Lorenzo Valley should be prepared to evacuate if necessary. (CRZ7, CRZ8)
- Areas West of Highway 9 to Empire Grade
- South from Bear Creek Road to Felton, this includes Ben Lomond
- Paradise Park (Zones: CRZ 63, CRZ 64)
- University of California Santa Cruz, campus only (Zone: SCZ 4)
- The areas of Zayante Canyon (Zones: ZAY 1 – ZAY 17)
- Scotts Valley West of State Route 17 (Zones: SCO 1-5, SCO 7, SCO 14-20, SCO 21 – SCO 25)
- Davenport south (Zones: CRZ 6, CRZ 9, CRZ 17)
- All areas of Felton (Zones: FEL 1– FEL6)
EVACUATION ORDERS FOR SAN MATEO COUNTY
- Communities of Loma Mar and Dearborn Park Area (Zone SMC E018)
- Pescadero Creek County Park Area (Zone SMC E024)
- Butano Community Area (Zone SMC E098)
- Butano State Park Area including Barranca Knolls Community (Zone SMC E019)
- Butano Creek Drainage (Zone SMC E055)
- South Skyline Blvd. Area near Highway 9 (SMC E049)
- Russian Ridge Open Space Reserve Area (Zone SMC E027)
- Middleton Tract Area (Zone SMC E044)
- Portola Redwoods State Park and the Portola Heights Community Area (Zone SMC E048)
- Pescadero Beach Area (Zone SMC E075)
- Bean Hollow Area (Zone SMC E042)
- Pescadero Area (Zone SMC E043)
- San Gregorio Area (Zone SMC E022)
- La Honda Area (Zone SMC E028)
- Red Barn Area (Zone SMC E010)
- Russian Bridge Open Space Area (Zone SMC E027)
- Skylonda Area (Zone SMC E012)
- Langley Hill Area ( Zone SMC E010)
- Bean Hollow Area (Zone SMC E042) (8/20/2020 6:00 pm)
EVACUATION CENTERS
Santa Cruz County
- Santa Cruz County Fairground, 2601 E. Lake Avenue in Watsonville
- Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz (AT CAPACITY)
- Seventh Day Adventist Camp Grounds, 1931 Soquel San Jose Rd (AT CAPACITY)
- Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos CA
- Santa Cruz Bible Church, 440 Frederick Street, Santa Cruz
- Simpkins Family Swim Center, 919 17th Ave (ADA only)
- Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive
San Mateo County
- Half Moon Bay High School, 1 Lewis Foster Drive, Half Moon Bay (AT CAPACITY)
- San Mateo Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive
ROAD CLOSURES
Road closures are fluid and being coordinated with evolving evacuation warnings and orders.
Santa Cruz County
- State Route 1 at Shaffer Road to Ano Nuevo
- State Route 9 at Lower Glen Arbor to Rincon Trail head
- Westbound Zayante at Graham Hill Dr to Lockwood
- Empire Grade at Heller Drive
- Westbound State Route 35 at Upper Zayante into San Mateo County
- Westbound State Route 236 at Jamison Creek
- Pine Flat at Empire Grade
- Ice Cream Grade at Empire Grade
- Felton Empire at Fall Creek
- Empire Grade at Smith Grade
- Empire Grade at Felton Empire
- Bonny Doon Rd at Pine Flat
- Alba Rd at Empire Grade
- State Route 35 at Bear Creek Rd to Boulder Creek
- Granite Creek at Scotts Valley, this includes southbound offramp closure at Highway 17 at Granite Creek
- Westbound Mount Hermon at La Modrona to Graham Hill Road
- Zayante at State Route 35
San Mateo County
- Pescadero Creek Road between Alpine and Cloverdale Rd.
- Cloverdale Road between Pescadero Creek Road and Gazos Creek.
- Whitehouse Canyon Road at Highway 1
- Portola Heights Road at Skyline
- State Route 1 at Rossi Road
- State Route 1 at Ano Nuevo
Animal Evacuation Center
- Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Avenue in Watsonville
- Large farm animals are being accepted at the Cowpalace. For information and assistance contact (650) 450-0520.
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Top Photo: The Sun pierces through the haze of smoke covering Scotts Valley and most of North Santa Cruz County on Wednesday, Aug. 19. ● Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz