Cal Fire

Cal Fire Crews Keep an Eye Out for Lightning Amid Fire Danger

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This week marks the two-year anniversary of the massive CZU Lightning Complex Fire that scorched more than 86,000 acres in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.

It was lightning that started the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, and on Wednesday, with lightning strikes reported in the same area, Cal Fire crews were on high alert.

Cal Fire crews rushed to respond to several reports of lightning strikes Wednesday. They were detected by fire surveillance cameras, special weather apps and phone calls from people in the area.

“So, we had a few strikes in the area of King's Mountain in San Mateo County. We had a few strikes in the far area of Crystal Springs reservoir area. In Santa Cruz County, we had a few large grouping of strikes above the landfill near Dimeo Lane,” said Jed Wilson, deputy chief of Cal Fire's San Mateo and Santa Cruz Unit.

Crews from Cal Fire’s Fall Creek Station near Felton used a wildland engine to investigate a nearby strike.

“We’ll follow GPS coordinates to that location. Sometimes, it’s not always accessible with the engine. But if it's not, then we will hike our way in,” said Anthony Medios of Cal Fire’s CZU Unit.

So far, ground crews said they did not spot any active fires, but they were not taking any chances.

“This afternoon, we’re probably doing a reconnaissance flight with our Aerotech just to fly over and to confirm there’s no fires that we may have missed,” Wilson said.

Drought conditions, tinder dry brush and heat only increase the risk a lightning strike can quickly lead to a large fire, which is why Cal Fire has beefed up staffing and brought in volunteer firefighters.

Ben Lomond resident Mike Martyn, who survived the CZU Fire, appreciates the proactive approach.

“Once the fire gets into the woods and goes, it is horrible. There's no way to get in there with a truck, and it (fire) goes so fast,” he said.

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