Ten fires in two northern California Counties have all of the counties’ CAL FIRE engines committed

Help is being sent in from other units

Freedom Fire Aptos California
Freedom Fire east of Aptos, California as seen from Lomaprieta at 11:18 a.m. PST Jan. 19, 2021.

At least 10 small vegetation fires have been reported Monday night and Tuesday morning South of San Francisco in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties after strong winds knocked down power lines and trees. At 7:13 a.m. Tuesday CAL FIRE reported that all of their fire engines in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties were committed to fires and they were asking for help from other units.

At least four flareups have been detected by satellites inside the perimeter of the CZULightning Complex that burned more than 86,000 acres in August and September between San Gregorio and Santa Cruz, California.

Flareups within the CZU Lightning Complex
Flareups within the CZU Lightning Complex as seen from Mt. Bielawski at 11:19 a.m. PST Jan. 19, 2021.

The information below came from the San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit of CAL FIRE at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday:

Santa Cruz County

  • Freedom Fire is east of Aptos off of Freedom Road. It was reported at 8:00 a.m., is 5 acres, and burning in timber. Crews are starting to gain containment. Nunes Road, Halton Lane, Willow Heights, and Gillette Road have been evacuated.
  • Panther Ridge Fire on Staph Road near Panther Ridge Road west of Highway 9 in Boulder Creek is seven to eight acres, 0% contained. Evacuations are underway.
  • EmpireFire in Boulder Creek on Alba Road at Empire Grade is six 6 acres in in timber, and is 0% contained. There is no structure threat and no evacuations.
  • Fanning Fire in Ben Lomond on Fanning Grade Road West of Hwy 9 is 14 acres, and is burning in timber. It is 30% contained.

San Mateo County

North Butano Fire is 10 acres in timber, and is 0% contained. There is no structure threat.

From 1 a.m. until 9 a.m. Tuesday the Los Gatos weather station south of Sunnyvale recorded wind speeds of 12 to 20 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

Map of Fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties
Map of Fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties, Jan. 19, 2021.

The date on the photo was corrected to today’s date, January 19, 2021.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

4 thoughts on “Ten fires in two northern California Counties have all of the counties’ CAL FIRE engines committed”

  1. I live almost 400 miles north of these fires and I’m STILL IN CALIFORNIA. Your description is VERY misleading. Those fires are in Central California.

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