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SCU Lightning Complex: 'This Is An Absolute Marathon'; Firefighters Brace For Long Battle; New Santa Clara Co. Evacuation Orders

August 23, 2020 / 6:24 PM PDT / CBS San Francisco

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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- With the threat of new lightning strikes overnight, Cal Fire officials said Sunday the fight with the sprawling SCU Lightning Complex Fire will be long and arduous.

And Mother Nature may be preparing to deliver another blow overnight as a plume of unstable weather from the remnants of Hurricane Genevieve stream into the region, bringing with it gusty winds and dry lightning. The National Weather Service has declared a Red Flag Fire Warning for the region until 5 p.m. Monday.

"Elevated moisture and instability from former Hurricane Genevieve will move over the region this weekend through early next week
and bring the threat of elevated thunderstorms across much of Northern California," the National Weather Service warned. "A low pressure system off the coast may enhance and strengthen these thunderstorms allowing some to develop frequent lighting strikes and gusty erratic outflow winds."

As of early Sunday night, the SCU Complex has grown to more than 339,968 acres -- the third largest wildfire in California history -- and triggered new evacuations in Santa Clara County. The complex was 10 percent contained and was threatening residents living in seven counties.

The new orders cover:

North of Magnolia Ct. and Magnolia Way
East of Lower Thomas Grade along the East Dunne Corridor
East of Hwy 101 to Meltcalf Rd.
East of Coyote Creek
East of Cochrane Rd.
East of Hill Rd.
South of Main Ave.
North of Dunne Ave.
West of Shingle Valley Rd.
Anderson Lake, to include the Jackson Oaks and Holiday Lake Estates.
South of Metcalf Rd.

For anyone who thought the firefight would be ending any time soon, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jake Hess dashed those thoughts Sunday.

"This is an absolute marathon that we are embarking on," he told reporters. "We have recognized that we are going to need to be here in the long term. We have been messaging to all our cooperators that we are going to have to manage the pace because this is going to be a long term incident."

As for the coming storm, Hess said Cal Fire has been contacting local volunteer fire departments to see if they can join the effort.

"We have been working behind the scenes in collaborating with local governments, fire chief partners, law enforcement to essentially pick up as many engine volunteer companies, any operational equipment that is out there in these communities so that we can staff up appropriately and get after these (new) fires ... with these (new) lightning strikes," he said.

Cal Fire Operations Manager Tim Ernst said crews have seen two critical times for fire expansion while battling the blaze -- around 3 a.m. and then in late afternoon.

"We have not had any significant fire runs (through early Sunday evening)," he said. "This is a very complex area -- topography, fuel types here, age of the fuel -- all combine to create a lot of real tough firefighting challenges."

Hess said the days of battling the complex of fires has taken a toll on the more than 1,000 firefighters manning the lines.

"Our troops are exhausted," he said. "At the end of the day we will put this fire out. It's going to be one piece at a time."

East of Morgan Hill, dozens of people were packing up their homes as they fell under an evacuation order.

"About an hour ago (3 p.m.) we were notified by text that it was time to," said Chuck Vargas. "To get out right now."

To help house the more than 77,000 evacuees, a new evacuation center was set up at the Quinlan Community Center at 10185 N Stelling Rd in Cupertino on Sunday.

San Jose Mayor San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo announced he had struck a deal with 13 major local hotels to provide rooms at a reduced rate. Called San Jose Cares, information can be found by clicking on this link.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES COVERAGE

According to Cal Fire, the 20 lightning sparked fires burning since Sunday have merged into three major fires burning in three zones; the Canyon Zone in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties, the Calaveras Zone burning in eastern Alameda, eastern Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties and the Deer Zone in eastern Contra Costa County.

Only 5 structures have been destroyed, but 20,065 structures remain threatened. There have been no fatalities. There have been 2 civilian injuries and 2 first responder injuries.

SCU / CZU Lightning Complex Wildfires Burn Zones Map & Evacuations

EVACUATION ORDERS:

Santa Clara County:

North of Magnolia Ct. and Magnolia Way
East of Lower Thomas Grade along the East Dunne Corridor
East of Hwy 101 to Meltcalf Rd.
East of Coyote Creek
East of Cochrane Rd.
East of Hill Rd.
South of Main Ave.
North of Dunne Ave.
West of Shingle Valley Rd.
Anderson Lake, to include the Jackson Oaks and Holiday Lake Estates.
South of Metcalf Rd.
East of San Jose City limits
South of Mt. Hamilton Rd.
North of Metcalf Rd. & San Felipe Rd., East to the County Line
East of San Antonio Valley Rd. to Del Puerto Canyon Rd. to the County Line
South of Stanislaus County Between Santa Clara County Line and I-
West of I-5 North of Stanislaus/Merced County Line
North of Stanislaus/Merced County Line
East of Santa Clara County Line, East if Ed Levine County Park, Felter Rd., Sierra Rd., Toyon Ave., and Mt. Hamilton Rd. Three Springs Rd.
Toyon Ave., and Mt. Hamilton Rd. to Three Springs Rd.
North of Hwy 130 to Santa Clara County Linew
West of San Antonio Valley Rd.
West of Mines Rd. to Santa Clara County Line
East of 3 Springs Rd. and Mt. Hamilton Rd.
South of Santa Clara County Line
North of Mt. Hamilton Rd. to Three Springs Rd.
South of Santa Clara County Line
West of the Fire Perimeter
East of Ferguson Rd. East and North of Hwy 152
West of Merced County Line
North of Hwy 152
South of Metcalf Rd at Shingle Valley Rd.
East to the Stanislaus County line
East of Shingle Valley Rd. and everything East of Anderson Lake, East of Coyote Creek
East of Coyote Reservoir, East of Roop Rd., East of Leavesley Rd., East of Crews Rd
East of Ferguson Road.
East and North of Hwy 152
West of Merced County Line, North of Hwy 152
South of Metcalf Road at Shingle Valley Road, East to the Stanislaus County Line

Alameda County / Stanislaus County:

Frank Raines Park to Mines Road
Del Puerto Canyon Road 1 mile to Mines Road

Alameda County:

South of Welch Creek Rd. to the fire perimeter and the Alameda/Santa Clara County Line
East of Calaveras Rd. at Welch Creek Rd. to the fire perimeter
All of Mines Road, south of Mile Marker 10 to the county line

San Joaquin County:

South of West Corral Hollow Road to Stanislaus County line
West of I-580 to Alameda County line
East of Alameda County line to I-580 and the Stanislaus County line

The PAR Estates and following streets are excluded from the order, but will be in an evacuation warning: (See warning below)

EVACUATION WARNINGS:

San Joaquin County:

All of PAR Estates which are the following streets:

W. Vernalis Road, Bernard Drive, Stearman Road, Brichetto Court, Stearman Court, S Chrisman Road south of I-580, and the Tracy Golf & Country Club

North of West Corral Hollow Road to I-580

East of the Alameda County line to I-580

Stanislaus County:

Diablo Grande Parkway and the Diablo Community

Alameda County:

City of Fremont - Mill Creek Road

In Effect (8/22/20 7PM)

East of the Mission Blvd. and Mission Rd. Intersection south to the Intersection of Mission Blvd and Curtner Rd
East of Curtner Rd. south along I-680 to the Santa Clara County Line
South of I-580 in between Greenville Rd. and San Joaquin County Line to the Alameda/Santa Clara County Line, South of the Livermore City limits (excluding the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton), South of Hwy 84 in between Vineyard Ave. and I680, South of I-680 to the fire perimeter and the Alameda/Santa Clara County Line

West of the Alameda/San Joaquin County Line to the Livermore city limits, to Hwy 84 to I-680

North of fire perimeter and the Alameda/Santa Clara County Line to Hwy 84, to the Livermore city limits, to I-580

Santa Clara County:

South of Metcalf Rd. East of Coyote Creek to the Anderson Lake Shore, East of Chochrane Rd., East of Hill Rd. and South of Main Ave., North of Maple Ave., East of Foothill Ave, North of San Martin Ave, East of New Ave..

West of Shingle Valley Rd. and everything West of Anderson Lake, West of Coyote Creek, West of Coyote Reservoir, North and West of Roop Rd. between Coyote Reservoir Rd. and New Ave

East of Lovers Lane and the Santa Clara County
South of Hwy 152 to the San Benito County line
West to the Merced County Line
North of San Benito County Line to Hwy 152

Merced County:

North of Hwy 152 to I-5 to the Santa Clara County Line and Stanislaus County Line
West of the I-5 EXCLUDING THE COMMUNITY OF SANTA NELLA
East of Santa Clara County Line and Stanislaus County Line to the Delta-Mendota
South of the Stanislaus County Line to Hwy 152

TEMPORARY EVACUATION POINTS:

Creekside Middle School: 535 Peregrine Dr, Patterson, CA 95363

Milpitas Library: 160 N Main St Milpitas, CA 95035

Ann Sobrato High School – Performing Arts Building ,401 Burnett Ave. Morgan Hill, CA 95037

ROAD CLOSURES:

Holiday Dr. at East Dunne Ave., Coyote Reservoir Rd. at Roop Rd., Canada Rd. at Hwy 152, Hwy 152 at Belle Station
Del Puerto Canyon Road (SR-130) between Mines Road and Diablo Grande PKWY
Hwy 130 at Three Springs Rd.
Hwy 130 at Quimby Rd.

Animal Evacuation Center(s):

County of Santa Clara Animal Services: (408 )686-3900

For the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy

Hold Your Horses Live Stock: (925)-584-1976

Large Animals in Canyon Fire area