San Mateo-Santa Cruz Area Fires Grow Tenfold To 10,000 Acres

BAY AREA, CA — Fires sparked by lightning near the San Mateo County-Santa Cruz County line have grown to 10,000 acres with no containment as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire.

About 6,000 buildings have been threatened, but none have been destroyed. Evacuations have been issued in surrounding areas in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.

Firefighters are currently predicting full containment by Sept. 1, according to the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz (CZU) unit.

The series of fires, recently dubbed the CZU August Lightning Complex, began 3:15 a.m. Sunday, when Cal Fire reported 22 fires sparked over the course of 14 hours during a lightning storm that brought at least 2,500 lightning strikes to the Central Coast and Bay Area Sunday.

The CZU August Lightning Complex Fire is comprised of:

• the 5-14 Fire (near Olmo Truck Trail and Butano Fire Road in San Mateo County): 3,000 acres, 0% contained
• the 5-15 Fire (near N. Butano Truck Tail and Dearbone Park Road in San Mateo County): 3,000 acres, 0% contained
• the 5-18 Fire (just south of Rhododendron Creek in San Mateo County): 117 acres, 0% contained
• the Warrenella Fire (near Cement Pland Road and Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County): 120 acres, 5% contained
• the Waddell Fire (near Old Coast Road and Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County): 500 acres, 0% contained
• several smaller fires

The largest fires are burning in the Butano Creek drainage, causing large smoke plumes to float across the region, according to Cal Fire. People in this area are asked to refrain from calling 911.

Firefighters were not immediately able to respond to all of the fires due to strained resources, Cal Fire said Monday morning. The agency later reported that it had stopped several of the fires from advancing, though firefighters were still trying to access some.

Some 350 first responders were battling the blazes and one first responder has been injured in the firefight. No buildings are threatened or have been damaged.

There are 35 engines, 11 water tenders and seven helicopters on scene. Aerial firefighting resources from across the state are helping out as they're able, according to Cal Fire.

Evacuation Orders

• View a detailed list of orders in Santa Cruz County
• View a detailed list of orders in Santa Mateo County

Road Closures

• Butano Fire Road
• Canyon Trail
• Indian Trail
• Olmo Fire Road

Park Closures

Stay off of surrounding roads and trails, park officials say.

• Butano State Park
• Memorial Park
• Pescadero Creek Park
• Rancho del Oso Unit
• Sam McDonald Park

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

Find the latest information on the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire here.

BUTANO STATE PARK: This is the view from Skyline Blvd facing Butano State Park. Fire is putting off big plumes of smoke. PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911. Thank you! @sanmateoco @SMCParks pic.twitter.com/SwczEbgGyP
— CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) August 18, 2020

CZU August Lightning Complex [Update] San Mateo: Please click this link: https://t.co/nkLGPJzrHV pic.twitter.com/946ihcajGr
— CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) August 18, 2020

View the approximate location of the Waddell Fire: