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CZU Lightning Complex Fires: Mandatory Evacuation Orders Expand In Santa Cruz, San Mateo Counties

SAN MATEO COUNTY (CBS SF) -- Evacuation orders were expanded late Tuesday evening for communities in Santa Cruz County and San Mateo County because of intense activity from the CZU Lightning Complex Fires (map).

Santa Cruz County:

New evacuation orders for Santa Cruz County were sent out by Cal Fire at around 10 p.m.

Significant portions of northern Santa Cruz County including Last Chance and Big Basin State Park and Las Cumbres were added to the existing evacuation orders.

Zones CRZ1, CRZ2, CRZ10, CRZ13, CRZ14 and CRZ15 were included in the new evacuation, as was all of the Boulder Creek Fire Protection District (Zones BOU1-BOU43).

Residents are asked not to head north on Highway 235 or Highway 9. Required travel routes are either SOUTH on Highway 9 or EAST on Bear Creek Road.

Cal Fire had already issued evacuation orders at 7:30 p.m. in Santa Cruz County.

Residents of the following areas should evacuate SOUTH on HWY 236 (Big Basin Hwy) towards Boulder Creek, then access Hwy 9 SOUTH to Santa Cruz:

Waterman Gap Loop, Upper 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)

Residents of the following areas should evacuate NORTH on HWY 9 to Santa Clara County:

Saratoga Toll Road, San Lorenzo Park, Riverside Grove-Community of Teilh Drive, Wildwood Road (Zones, BOU38, BOU39, BOU40, BOU41, BOU42, BOU43)

San Mateo County:

Late Tuesday night, mandatory evacuation order were expanded in San Mateo County as well. New orders included:

  • South Skyline Boulevard area near Highway 9 (Zone 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)

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued earlier Tuesday for:

  • Loma Mar / 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)

An evacuation center has been set up at Pescadero High School at 360 Butano Cutoff in Pescadero. Current evacuation information could be found at smco.community.zonehaven.com

The affected communities are east of Pescadero along Pescadero Creek Road in the southern part of the county.

A series of lightning-caused wildfires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties have been grouped together by Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit as the CZU August Lightning Complex fires.

ALSO READ:

The fires collectively have burned 7,500 acres and had zero containment as of Tuesday afternoon. Some 1,200 structures are threatened but so far, no damages or injuries. Full containment is not expected before September 1.

The largest of the fires was burning in the Butano Creek drainage.

San Mateo County:
5-14 Fire - 2,000 acres, 0% contained, Olmo Truck Trail & Butano Fire Road
5-15 Fire -  2,500 acres, 0% contained, N. Butano Truck Trail & Dearborn Park Road
5-18 Fire - 2,500 acres, 0% contained, N. Butano Truck Trail & China Grade Road

Santa Cruz County:
Waddell Fire – 500 acres, 0% contained, Old Coast Road & Highway 1
Warrenella Fire – 300 acres, 10% contained, Cement Plant Rd. & Highway 1

 

 

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