PESCADERO – Several fires burning west of the Skyline Ridge in southern San Mateo County caused evacuation damages and orders east of the city Tuesday night, authorities said.
According to a county alarm shortly after 3:15 p.m., smoke and wind changes expected over the next three days are likely to affect residents’ needs to respond quickly, Woodside firefighters said. Fire Department, Don Bullard.
Bullard said an evacuation order was given for the Loma Lake and Dearborne Park areas west of the reef. A social media post ran at 5:20 p.m. by the California Department of State Forest Management and Fire Prevention added the Pescadero Creek County area, with Butano Community Area residents instructed to evacuate and go to Pescadero High School, 360 Butano Cut-Off.
In a statement, Cal Fire officials said the fires, called the CZU August Lightning Complex, had grown to about 1,000 acres with zero percent occupancy starting at 5:45 p.m.
By 7:30 p.m., Cal Fire expanded its evacuation facilities, telling residents along Waterman Gap Loop, Upper 236, Boulder Creek Golf Course, Heartwood Hill, Lodge Road, the Little Basin and Kings Highway communities, Lower and Upper China Grade, Lower Jamison Creek, Gallon Heights, the Fallen Leaf neighborhood and Foxglove Lane to go south along Highway 236 toward Boulder Creek before reaching Highway 9 south to Santa Cruz. Residents along Saratoga Toll Road, San Lorenzo Park, Riverside Grove Community of Teilh Drive and Wildwood Road had to evacuate north on Highway 9 toward Santa Clara County.
Within the hour, smoke heading north began to lower air quality across the Peninsula and into San Francisco, with social media posts citing the presence of ash and other particles. On the Bay Bay Air Quality Management District’s live air quality map, a sensor in Redwood City spiked around 4 to 5 p.m., and law enforcement agencies passed advice by passing an updated provincial alarm about drifting smoke.
By 7:45 p.m., heavy smoke was billowing across Menlo Park, where thousands of residents were eating outside at street and sidewalk tables on Santa Cruz Avenue. Minutes later, the cloud drifted south and east along Highway 101 to cover the hangars at Moffett Field and pointed south.
“Smoke is moving to Palo Alto and surrounding communities from multiple major fires burning in Santa Cruz County, and a major fire in San Mateo County. There is currently no fire in Palo Alto, ”Palo Alto police said in a warning by email shortly after 7:50 p.m., urging residents to close their windows and restrict outdoor activity.
NEW: Evacuation Center set up at Pescadero High School https://t.co/4g1guMMFBH
– CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) August 18, 2020
Brush fire triggers more evacuations for San Mateo County residents in Loma Mar / Dearborn Park area and Pescadero Creek County Park area. An evacuation center has been set up at Pescadero High School. #lightningcomplexfires https://t.co/auXCHFuWik
– County of San Mateo (@sanmateoco) August 19, 2020
San Mateo County: We have a new tool to help with evacuations! This application is built for a day like today. Please announce yourself with it.https: //t.co/pF1s0coWVE
– CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) August 19, 2020
Head up #SF, especially at Ocean Beach, Lands End, Sunset, Richmond District – noticed small ashes all over my car and drive from 6:05 p.m. Close windows. My judgment, ashes are from San Mateo County #fire, by Pescadero, Loma Mar. Be careful😷
– Elaine Leung (@ ElaineLeung4) August 19, 2020
Staff Writer Linda Zavoral contributed to this report. Check back for updates. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
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