by Jim Burns
The wind-driven lightning storms that swept through our Northern California Coastal Region and other parts of the state this past weekend have caused a number of destructive fires in our chapter areas — and prompted quick responses by our region’s Red Cross teams.
In all, as of Thursday night, we had helped provide safe shelter for nearly 900 individuals in Red Cross, county, and independent shelters throughout our region. We had also assisted more than 300 individuals in non-congregate hotel sheltering.
As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, here are the individual wildfires and wildfire complexes within our region — and how we are currently supporting affected counties and residents:
As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, the fires were at 40,000 acres and 0% contained. As of Thursday late afternoon:
Mandatory evacuations orders remained in place (and have expanded) for a number of areas in San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties.
The two counties are maintaining a list of evacuations at storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f0121f7f2f0941afb3ed70529b2cee75
- The Red Cross was supporting a San Mateo County evacuation center at Half Moon Bay High School (this had been located at Pescadero High School). We are supporting the center with snacks and water.
- In addition, the Red Cross was providing non-congregate sheltering for the residents of 33 households in two San Mateo County hotels.
- In Santa Cruz County, the Red Cross had also provided cots and blankets for county-operated shelters in Watsonville at the county fairgrounds and in Santa Cruz at the Civic Auditorium. As of late Thursday, there were 97 evacuees at the fairgrounds and 37 at the Civic Auditorium; because of COVID-requirements, both facilities were considered to be at capacity.
- Late Thursday, the Red Cross also began to open two additional shelters in Santa Cruz County: at Cabrillo College and at the Santa Cruz Bible Church.
River Fire, Monterey County:
- As of Friday morning, evacuation orders were still in place for a large number of residents in areas threatened by this fire, which started south of Salinas.
- On Friday morning, the county was still operating a shelter at Carmel Middle School for evacuees from the River Fire and Carmel Fire (below). The Red Cross has coordinated feeding with a key partner, the Salvation Army, and we are supporting the shelter with cots and blankets.
While the Red Cross is not able to accept in-kind donations of materials (see Related Information, below), please go to montereyco.recovers.org/
Carmel Fire, Monterey County:
- As of Friday morning, evacuation orders were still in place for residents threatened by this fire in Carmel Valley.
- On Friday morning, the county was still operating a shelter at Carmel Middle School for evacuees from the River Fire, above, and Carmel Fire. We are helping coordinate feeding with a key partner, the Salvation Army, and we are supporting the shelter with cots and blankets.
While the Red Cross is not able to accept in-kind donations of materials (see Related Information, below), please go to montereyco.recovers.org/
SCU Lightning Complex: This comprises of approximately 20 fires between Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties. As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, these fires had burned 137,000 acres and were at 5% containment. As of Thursday late afternoon:
- In Santa Clara County, the Red Cross was supporting Temporary Evacuation Points at Milpitas Library in Milpitas and at Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill. If you live in Santa Clara County and have questions about evacuations, call: 408-808-7778.
- In San Mateo County, the Red Cross was supporting Temporary Evacuation Points at Half Moon Bay High School and at the San Mateo County Event Center.
- In Stanislaus County, the Red Cross had been supporting a Temporary Evacuation Points at Creekside Middle School.
- In various counties, we had also established 8 non-congregate sites for evacuees affected by this fire.
LNU Lightning Complex: The Lightning Complex is made up of the Hennessey, Gamble, and other fires, which started in Napa but now affect Sonoma, Solano, Yolo, and Lake Counties. As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, these fires had burned 131,000 acres and were at 0% containment. As of Thursday late afternoon:
- In Solano County, the Red Cross was operating a congregate shelter at Ulatis Community Center.
- In Sonoma County, the Red Cross was supporting a congregate shelter at Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
- In various counties, we had also established 6 non-congregate sites for evacuees affected by this fire.
- We were also supporting 5 Temporary Evacuation Points in various counties for evacuees affected by this fire.
- The Salvation Army, one of our key partners, is assisting with feeding at the various locations.
- County officials also opened a shelter for large animals at Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo.
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Read more Red Cross updates at redcrossblognccr.org/author/redcrossnccr/
Top Photo: Fire near Healdsburg • Photo Credit: Lindsay Peak