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Got Google Earth fired up and plugged into the MODIS fire data. Dark Red/Red are basically actively burning (activity in the last 6 hours), yellow shows the last 6 days burned.
NorCal => Bay Area/Monterrey => Santa Cruz Mountains
#CZULightningComplex
NorCal => Bay Area/Monterrey => Santa Cruz Mountains
#CZULightningComplex
Closer view, with (obv) my place and Big Basin marked.
This is data from NASA, I'll let them explain it :
What's hard to get is the topography, and what makes this thing so scary. Looking up the valley from Santa Cruz towards Big Basin, you can see the fire has largely been on the western coastal side, slowly climbing up the ridges towards Highway 9
That’s the ridgeline you see burning in this insane photograph (left side is above Felton, following North to Boulder Creek and beyond)
And that ridgeline runs up to Boulder Creek, where there’s a break and Highway 236 snakes through the forest to Big Basin State Park - this video is looking West on 236 from Boulder Creek at the end of that ridge (“Empire Ridge” in most comms, but most call it “Empire Grade”...
That’s the road these firefighters are driving up (north, towards safe already burned ground) in this insane video https://twitter.com/firephotogirl/status/1296329929001283584?s=21 https://twitter.com/firephotogirl/status/1296329929001283584
This ridgeline overlooks the San Lorenzo River and Valley. SLV is beautiful - it starts at the coastline in Santa Cruz with Henry Cowell State Park, and winds up the narrow valley through Felton, Ben Lomond, Brookdale, and Boulder Creek.
Felton, looking west at Empire Grade
Felton, looking west at Empire Grade
finally got maps to do what I wanted - this gives you an idea of the layout of the valley. Empire Grade is the ridgeline to the west (left) that the fire is sitting on top of. Everything to the East, in the middle of the pic, is SLV
Similar view from Earth with the last 0-12 hours of MODIS data. You can see the danger here - the fires are creeping down the ridge towards the valley. You can see Bonny Doon which got hit really hard from initial reports. Fire moving South East (top left -> bottom right)
Opposite view, looking from the coast West to East in the direction the fire is traveling - this is the view that makes it hit home for me. Everyone South of 35 (green line) and West of 17 (Yellow line through Scotts Valley are under mandatory evacuation orders). Easy to see why.
Blue arrows are are creek/river valleys, all of which end up feeding into the San Lorenzo River. If the fire crests the river and starts to climb *up* those canyons, oh fuck. It would be unstoppable and burn right to Skyline. Evacuating the whole area is 100% the right decision.
Many of those canyons don't have roads that head north - south is the only way out, other than fire roads (lots of the pictures I've posted exploring on my eBike have been me exploring these roads, figuring out every possible route out should the worst occur)
Morning all.
Latest VIIRS data. 375m square pixels. BC downtown still looks to be OK, but its all residential neighborhoods that border it, and many of those are on fire
Latest VIIRS data. 375m square pixels. BC downtown still looks to be OK, but its all residential neighborhoods that border it, and many of those are on fire
Those areas are what @DylanBouscher tweeted a shot of here 
https://twitter.com/DylanBouscher/status/1296699821907091456?s=20
https://twitter.com/DylanBouscher/status/1296699821907091456?s=20
Also hearing reports of looting on the scanner. Looters can die in a fire for all I’m concerned. SCSO and nearby agencies providing security for neighborhoods, but it’s a huge area to cover.
6am presser for those who missed it https://twitter.com/calfireczu/status/1296794881252196353?s=21 https://twitter.com/calfireczu/status/1296794881252196353
Looks like we’ve got no air support at the moment as well. Neighbor saying we have 8 choppers staged at Watsonville and they’re all grounded due to conditions (orange icons bottom right). I don’t blame them but we are missing them.
#CZULightningComplex
#CZULightningComplex
Coastal front VIIRS data #CZULightningComplex
@CALFIRE_PIO @CALFIRECZU have been doing a great job keeping us up to date (and they’re wearing their damn masks!)
#CZULightningComplex
https://twitter.com/calfireczu/status/1296837811308335105?s=21 https://twitter.com/calfireczu/status/1296837811308335105
#CZULightningComplex
https://twitter.com/calfireczu/status/1296837811308335105?s=21 https://twitter.com/calfireczu/status/1296837811308335105
50k+ acres burned
64k people evacuated
They’re having to stop to rescue people who aren’t evacuating.
Please GTFO so they can work.
#CZULightningComplexFire
64k people evacuated
They’re having to stop to rescue people who aren’t evacuating.
Please GTFO so they can work.
#CZULightningComplexFire
Reminder: listen to local authorities and first responders. I am neither.
Lots of folks sharing this https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=37.07956,-122.16093&z=12&b=mbt&a=modis_mp
From a local coworker, some context on the efforts of our brave firefighters 
they’re out there driving bulldozers into the face of this thing
#CZULightningComplex
they’re out there driving bulldozers into the face of this thing #CZULightningComplex
For those not local, one other piece of context : we had a firefight of a different kind on these exact streets a few months ago - a SCSO deputy was murdered by a man who’d recently murdered a federal agent. The suspect was tackled by locals who live at the current fireline.
Air attack is up, looks like they’re hitting the coastal front of the fire (Prob can’t fly safely low the valley due to smoke)
First is the command and control plane, high overhead (6000 feet) circling the scene. Second is a whole mess of helicopters
#CZULightningComplex
First is the command and control plane, high overhead (6000 feet) circling the scene. Second is a whole mess of helicopters
#CZULightningComplex
That’s a new one on me, there’s an CH-47 (Chinook) doing air ops over East San Jose 
From Montana, privately owned fleet!
https://fireaviation.com/2014/02/21/montana-company-purchases-first-civilian-owned-chinooks-2/
From Montana, privately owned fleet!
https://fireaviation.com/2014/02/21/montana-company-purchases-first-civilian-owned-chinooks-2/
From the 6pm presser :
57,000 acres burned
2% containment
97 structures burned
24,000 structures threatened
1,157 people working the fire
#CZULightningComplex
57,000 acres burned
2% containment
97 structures burned
24,000 structures threatened
1,157 people working the fire
#CZULightningComplex
60 deputies and police involved in burglary suppression
Burglary is happening
Arrested 5 people with 2 carloads of stolen property off Fall Creek Road
If you see somebody prowling call dispatch center immediately (number in previous post)
Burglary is happening
Arrested 5 people with 2 carloads of stolen property off Fall Creek Road
If you see somebody prowling call dispatch center immediately (number in previous post)
Peak Boulder Creek. We always park up at this station and BS about bikes whenever we’re riding 9 https://twitter.com/jpicardi3/status/1297024879766601729
AirBnB has opened their NorCal fire page - sign up if you’re evacuated and need somewhere to stay (or have a place to offer)
https://www.airbnb.com/openhomes/disaster-relief/norcalfires2020
#CZULightningComplex
https://www.airbnb.com/openhomes/disaster-relief/norcalfires2020
#CZULightningComplex
Sharing this for visibility - big thank you to the CDCR (inmate) fire crews putting in work for our towns and homes
#CZULightningComplex
#CZULightningComplex
Utterly disgusting.
Deputy yesterday - “if you hear an ambulance request on dispatch, it’s likely a looter that has been caught by locals”
Stay the fuck out of the Santa Cruz Mountains. If the sheriff doesn’t catch you, the locals will, and then you’ll *wish* it was a cop. https://twitter.com/calfireczu/status/1297553631659429888
Deputy yesterday - “if you hear an ambulance request on dispatch, it’s likely a looter that has been caught by locals”
Stay the fuck out of the Santa Cruz Mountains. If the sheriff doesn’t catch you, the locals will, and then you’ll *wish* it was a cop. https://twitter.com/calfireczu/status/1297553631659429888
More CDCR guys on the Salinas fire https://twitter.com/ostly_media/status/1296978936920854528
https://twitter.com/ostly_media/status/1296978936920854528
They’re getting a shitty deal, and California *must* change the regulations to allow them to get EMT certified after their release (EMT is a requirement to be a CalFire firefighter, and felons aren’t eligible)
Anybody think these people haven’t paid their debt to society?
Anybody think these people haven’t paid their debt to society?
From Scott Green, a neighbor and (former?) CalFire captain and 25 year veteran firefighter (I cannot tell you how helpful he’s been over the years for our community - he speaks, we listen!)
Red Flag
warning on now.
#CZULightningComplex
Red Flag
warning on now. #CZULightningComplex
Good summary of this morning’s press conference (h/t Tony Russomano for prepping!)
#CZULightingComplex
#CZULightingComplex
QA from press conference (interesting note re national guard - heard yesterday they give them a week of training and send them out as hand crews. Perhaps they should do the same for some local volunteers next time? I can handle myself with a shovel )
#CZULightningComplex
)#CZULightningComplex
Again, I’m not sharing pictures of peoples’ burned out houses, but this is the Fallen Leaf neighborhood (off 236 on the way to Big Basin, ~3 miles or so outside Boulder Creek downtown).
It’s gone. Completely.
(Photo credit SLV Steve, local photog)
#CZULightningComplex
It’s gone. Completely.
(Photo credit SLV Steve, local photog)
#CZULightningComplex
Good news : long time Boulder Creek resident Albert the Albino Peacock confirmed safe 
#CZULightningComplex https://twitter.com/shiftinthinking/status/1297589024547196928
#CZULightningComplex https://twitter.com/shiftinthinking/status/1297589024547196928
Sheriff’s office giving an update on looting:
90+ officers in the hills in addition to SCSO, SVPD, etc.
Protocol - stop every vehicle not police or fire. If you’re not tied to the area, you’re going to jail.
#CZULightningComplex https://www.facebook.com/ktvu/videos/622374741813262
90+ officers in the hills in addition to SCSO, SVPD, etc.
Protocol - stop every vehicle not police or fire. If you’re not tied to the area, you’re going to jail.
#CZULightningComplex https://www.facebook.com/ktvu/videos/622374741813262
6pm briefing:
Statewide update:
- 615 fires in California
- CZU and LNU fires are the 2nd and 3rd largest fires in California history
- 14,000 firefighters across the state
- 2400 fire engines
- 96% of all CalFire engines deployed at a fire
#CZULightingComplex
Statewide update:
- 615 fires in California
- CZU and LNU fires are the 2nd and 3rd largest fires in California history
- 14,000 firefighters across the state
- 2400 fire engines
- 96% of all CalFire engines deployed at a fire
#CZULightingComplex
(Cont’d)
95 aircraft
2.4M gallons of retardant dropped
2.5M gallons of water dropped
Cal National Guard is on scene,
11 guard helis
12 guard handcrews, 216 people
60 out of state engines
26 more inbound
(These are statewide numbers, not #CZULightningComplex alone)
95 aircraft
2.4M gallons of retardant dropped
2.5M gallons of water dropped
Cal National Guard is on scene,
11 guard helis
12 guard handcrews, 216 people
60 out of state engines
26 more inbound
(These are statewide numbers, not #CZULightningComplex alone)
CZU update:
Good 24 hours, crews accomplished a bunch.
Fire lines in on
- north end of fire
- all along Hwy 9 corridor
- between Hwy 9 and Hwy 1 to protect UCSC
Contingency lines behind those either finished or completed tonight
#CZULightningComplex
Good 24 hours, crews accomplished a bunch.
Fire lines in on
- north end of fire
- all along Hwy 9 corridor
- between Hwy 9 and Hwy 1 to protect UCSC
Contingency lines behind those either finished or completed tonight
#CZULightningComplex
