Man Found Dead In CZU Lightning Complex Fires: Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A 70-year-old man was found dead Sunday in Santa Cruz County, a victim of the CZU Lightning Complex Fires, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office announced.

The man's body was found in the Last Chance area Sunday afternoon, and his remains had to be recovered using a helicopter due to the remote terrain, Chief Deputy Chris Clark of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said during a 6 p.m. news briefing.

The man has been identified but public release of his name was being withheld until next of kin are notified.

"This is a very dark period," Clark said.

The death marks the first in the CZU Lightning Complex Fires that have burned 74,000 acres in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties and have destroyed 163 structures.

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