Story at a glance
- Several new wildfires have bloomed in Santa Cruz, Calif.
- Dry weather and strong winds are again the culprits.
After a devastating 2020, wildfires have returned to California this year, with Santa Cruz facing strong winds from a low-pressure system that has jump-started at least 19 brush fires, KSBW reports.
NBC News also reports that fire crews are specifically focusing on active fires within August’s CZU Complex Fire burn area in Santa Cruz County. Evacuations have already been ordered for residents in affected areas.
Cal Fire working on fire in South County near Nunes Rd in Aptos.
Evacuations ordered for Nunes Rd. and Gillette Rd.@CALFIRECZU @sccounty
— Santa Cruz SO (@SantaCruzSO1) January 19, 2021
The same winds, blowing at around 95 miles per hour, knocked some power lines across the state out, resulting in a blackout to prevent a fallen line from sparking and catalyzing another fire.
As with the 2020 wildfire season, dry conditions, hot temperatures and gusty winds have all contributed to the new flames.
Fortunately, pending rain may help firefighters resolve some of the incidents.
“One thing that we do have in our favor is that we did get some rain, so there is a little bit of moisture in the fuel,” Cal Fire Unit Chief Ian Larkin said. “If this was the middle of fire season and we had a wind event, it would have been the CZU Complex all over again.”
Larkin further elaborated that the flames are likely to be extinguished by the end of the week.
“Those that are nearing containment, we’re hoping to have them fully contained by morning (Wednesday), if not by midday,” he commented. “And the remainder of the fires may take us another day to get them fully contained. So, hopefully some time by around Thursday we’ll have 100% containment.”
COLORADO IS FIGHTING THE WORST WILDFIRES IN ITS HISTORY
CALIFORNIA POWER COMPANY SAYS A FAULTY WIRE MAY HAVE SPARKED SILVERADO FIRE
FAMILIES CLOG HIGHWAYS AS THEY FLEE RAGING COLORADO FIRE
COLORADO WILDFIRES ARE BREAKING RECORDS
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