Cal Fire makes progress against CZU Lightning Complex Fires

Cal Fire announced Saturday evening that they had made good progress against the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires during the day Saturday on the wildfire burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The fire grew from 63,000 acres or 98.4 square miles, to 67,000 acres. The fire had been listed at 57,000 acres on Friday night.

Officials said Saturday morning that the change was not because the fire had considerably grown in size, but rather due to a more accurate mapping of the fire zone, as ground crews had a better opportunity to survey the damage.

Fire containment rose from 2 percent to 5 percent Saturday morning. Crews were unable to rely on aircraft Saturday afternoon as unstable air didn't allow for any aerial firefighting drops for much of the day.

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So far, the fires have destroyed 115 structures and 24,300 remain threatened.

Interactive map: See where all the fires are raging in California

Authorities announced that improved weather conditions helped in the firefight, but they are concerned that the same weather pattern that brought dry lightning last week will repeat over the next few days.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff has about 100 officers out patroling evacuated areas for possible looting. The Sheriff took 25 calls Saturday for possible looters.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of looting Saturday. One of the two arrested was a woman who was wanted with an outstanding warrant. The second person, a man with a police scanner, had no business being in that area, according to the sheriff.

The Sheriff said they also responded to about 20 calls for help from residents for welfare checks. 

Firefighters were able to put a fire line between Highways 1 and 9, just above the UC Santa Cruz campus and Santa Cruz and Capitola communities.

An estimated 77,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes, but some people have decided to stay and protect their houses.

Officials are urging these homeowners to leave, as some had to be rescued, when flames quickly approached adn they became trapped.

Firefighters responded to three separate rescues Thursday night into Friday morning.

EVACUATION WARNINGS FOR SAN MATEO COUNTY:

• No Evacuation Warnings currently in place

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)
• Paradise Park (Zones: CRZ 63, CRZ 64)
• University of California Santa Cruz, campus only (Zone: SCZ 4)

EVACUATION WARNINGS FOR SANTA CRUZ COUNTY:

• No Evacuation Warnings currently in place

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

EVACUATION CENTERS:

San Mateo County:

• Half Moon Bay High School, 1 Lewis Foster Drive, Half Moon Bay

Santa Cruz County:

• Santa Cruz County Fairground, 2601 E. Lake Avenue in Watsonville
• Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz
• Santa Cruz Seventh Day Adventist Camp Grounds, 1931 Soquel San Jose Rd

ROAD CLOSURES: Road closures are fluid and being coordinated with evolving evacuation warnings and orders.

San Mateo County:

• Pescadero Creek Road between Alpine and Cloverdale Rd.
• Cloverdale Road between Pescadero Creek Road and Gazos Creek.
• Alpine Road between Pescadero Creek Road and Skyline
• Whitehouse Canyon Road at Highway 1
• Portola Heights Road at Skyline
• State Route 1 at Rossi Road
• State Route 1 at Ano Nuevo

Santa Cruz County:

• Granite Creek Rd. is closed at southbound state Highway 17.
• Closures also include Mt. Hermon Rd. and La Madrona Drive, and Graham Hill Rd. and Lockewood Lane. 
• State Route 1 at Shaffer Road
• State Route 9 north bound at Alba Road
• Empire Grade at Heller Drive
• Felton Empire Road at Featherston Way