SCU Lightning Complex Fires Now The Biggest In California

Read Wednesday's update on the SCU Lighting Complex fires here.

BAY AREA, CA — The SCU Lightning Complex wildfires have scorched nearly 364,000 acres in the East Bay, South Bay and neighboring Central Valley areas, making those fires the largest of nearly two dozen burning in California.

The fires span five counties and were sparked just over a week ago as dry lightning struck the Bay Area, according to the Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit (SCU). The SCU Lightning Complex fires were 15 percent contained as of Tuesday morning, thanks to nearly 1,400 first responders on scene.

Until recently, the North Bay fires spanning Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties were considered to be the largest in the state. Dubbed the LNU Lightning Complex fires, they have scorched nearly 353,000 acres and were 27 percent contained as of Tuesday morning.

Firefighters are pacing themselves ahead of what's expected to be a long firefight.

"We are essentially living in a mega-fire era," said Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit (SCU) Chief Jake Hess during a Monday afternoon news briefing. "These significant events have been outpacing themselves every year."

The SCU Lightning Complex fires have destroyed 18 buildings and threaten 20,000 more. Evacuations have been ordered in four counties, though several warnings were scaled back Tuesday, including in areas bordering Fremont and Tri-Valley.

I surveyed the Alameda County fire damage along Calaveras Resevoir today. Thank you residents for cooperating with evacuation orders and warnings. #SCULightningComplex pic.twitter.com/yIm3w3AcpH
— Captain Chris Sherry (@CHPChrisSherry) August 24, 2020

Three first responders and two members of the public have been injured.

The SCU Lightning Complex fires are comprised of the following fire clusters:

• The Deer Zone fires in Contra Costa County, west of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir, which were contained as of Monday
• The Calaveras Zone fires in Alameda, Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties, northeast of the Calaveras Reservoir in the Sunol area and east of the reservoir, stretching down into the San Felipe Hills.
• The Canyon Zone fires in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, burning toward Corral Hollow on the north end and burning into Henry W. Coe State Park on the south end.

Interesting how these helicopters are refilling with water. #SCULightningComplex pic.twitter.com/GsgKMJfhaf
— Captain Chris Sherry (@CHPChrisSherry) August 24, 2020

View a map of the fire here.

Firefighters continue to prioritize safety and protecting buildings, Cal Fire SCU said.

They are traversing steep, dense terrain to extinguish flames in lower-than-usual humidity, in remote areas including some above 1,000 feet elevations. Winds picked up Monday, causing firefighters to lose some control over fire lines.

Fires are burning in places that may have never seen wildfire, Cal Fire said.

Smoke is expected to be most prevalent above the Canyon Zone fires.

Get the latest on evacuations here.

Patch staffer Gideon Rubin contributed to this report.