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Firefighters reported progress for the first time Saturday in containing the collection of fires raging across Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, but warned that the trend could quickly change with weather conditions.
Calmer winds, lower temperatures and moisture from the marine layer allowed crews to form stronger fire lines from Davenport to La Honda against the 67,000-acre CZU Complex fire, Cal Fire officials said in a 6 p.m. briefing Saturday. The blaze remained at 5% containment through the day, and has destroyed 115 structures.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton said Saturday night it was “a good day of firefighting,” continuing progress from the previous day. He credited favorable weather and the work of more than 1,300 personnel.
Emergency officials in the CZU task force said Saturday night a man from Alameda County and a woman from Santa Clara County were suspected of casing empty homes and arrested.
Fire officials said good weather allowed emergency crews to make progress on protecting communities in Santa Cruz. More personnel are expected from activated National Guard units and out-of-state firefighters.
Officials encouraged people to evacuate when ordered, resist the urge to return to their homes, and stay out of the way of emergency personnel. Half Moon Bay Beaches are closed.
Crews in La Honda and Pescadero to the north and Davenport to the south reported fires were spreading but managed to keep firm control lines against the flames, Brunton said. Along Highway 9, the blaze made a small push into Boulder Creek.
The fire officially grew by 6,000 acres since Friday, although some of that increase is thanks to more accurate mapping, officials said.
Still, the progress could quickly fade. The National Weather Service issued a “fire watch” from Sunday to Tuesday as thunderstorms move northward — potentially causing another round of dry lightning strikes. The marine layer is also expected to subside as temperatures rise.
Firefighting resources also remain limited, said Deputy Fire Chief Jonathan Cox, especially in the Ben Lomond and Bonny Doon area, where some locals have refused to evacuate in favor of trying to save their homes. Crews are stuck waiting on help from out of state after Gov. Gavin Newsom called on Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Nevada and New Mexico to provide engines.
“It could be days,” Cox said. “We’re seven days into this, and we’re getting out-of-state resources just trickling in.”
The North Bay’s LNU Complex fire meanwhile grew by about 12,000 acres overnight to 314,207 acres across Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Lake and Yolo counties and is 15% contained as of Saturday morning. A total of 560 structures have been destroyed with another 30,500 threatened.
The SCU Complex has burned 291,968 acres across Santa Clara, Alameda, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties — an increase of about 17,000 acres overnight — and was 10% contained as of Saturday morning. It has destroyed five structures and threatens 20,065 more.
