Powerful Collection of Images From Kevin Painchaud
By Jondi Gumz
Aptos photographer Kevin Painchaud is documenting the devastation of the CZU Lightning Complex fires.
And he’s sharing what he found with you.
On Aug. 19, he drove up Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz.
“All of Highway 1 was on fire,” he said. “It was out of control.”
The next day, he spent four hours driving along Highway 9 in San Lorenzo Valley to Big Basin State Park, the oldest in California, where flames consumed the landmark visitor center, everything but the chimney.
“All the hills were smoldering,” he said. “I didn’t want to go any further. I saw a lot of destruction.”
Painchaud said the Boulder Creek Golf Course “looked fine.”
So did Little Basin — although the LittleBasin.com website reports “severe damage” and the campground will be closed until further notice. Guests and staff were evacuated safely, according to the website.
His assessment: “The (redwood) old growth is fine, which is amazing.”
Painchaud drove up to the 3,200-acre Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport, 15 miles north of Santa Cruz, where the Swanton Pacific Railroad Society had operated a historic mile-long railroad with a diesel locomotive.
“A lot of people who worked there asked me for photos,” he said.
The railroad society’s website at sprr.calpoly.edu/ has few details other than to say “at least some of our buildings were damaged or destroyed.”
Driving up Felton Empire Grade, Painchaud was surprised because he did not see much destruction.
“A lot of homes on this side of the hill are saved,” he said.
He also photographed Aptos residents lining the street by the Best Western Seacliff Inn, cheering and holding hand-made thank-you signs for the out-of-town firefighters departing in their engines before dawn to their shift fighting the CZU fires. That show of gratitude was organized by Lisa Lonsdale Haux.
This week, the rain and fog buoyed Painchaud’s spirits.
On the Aptosia Facebook page, he wrote, “I’m feeling very optimistic.”
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All photos courtesy of Kevin Painchaud
