SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Cal Fire CZU on Sunday evening issued evacuation warnings for swaths of the San Lorenzo Valley, including most of Boulder Creek and various areas of Ben Lomond and Felton that just a few months ago were scorched by the CZU August Lightning Complex fires.
Incoming heavy rains have officials worried of a possible debris flow, in which heavy rainfall unable to soak into the fire-damaged soil will instead flow downhill, taking rocks, trees and other items with it. These can reach speeds of 30 mph and destroy the homes and other structures that lie below.
The areas under an evacuation warning are below:
Boulder Creek
Zones: Boulder Creek Fire District BOU-E001, BOU-E010A, BOU-E021, BOU-E031, BOU- E036B, BOU-E037, BOU-E038, BOU-E021A, BOU-E020, BOU-E017, BOU-E016, BOU-E010, BOU-E006, BOU-E001A, BOU-E002, BOU-E033A, BOU-E038A, BOU-E031B, BOU-E030, BOU-E018A, BOU-E014, BOU-E009, BOU-E003, BOU-E001B, BOU-E015A, BOU-E039A, BOU-E040A
Ben Lomond
Zones: Ben Lomond Fire District BEN-E001D, BEN-E002A, BEN-E002D,
BEN-E004B
Felton
Zones: Felton Fire District FEL-E002A, FEL-E003B, FEL-E003C, FELE004A
Santa Cruz Mountains
Zones: Santa Cruz County Fire Dept. CRZ-E001B, CRZ-E001D, CRZE002B, CRZ-E003B, CRZ-E003D, CRZ-E006B, CRZ-E006C, CRZ-E007A, CRZ-E017A, CRZ-E017C
To view the interactive evacuation map, click here.
In a press release, Cal Fire said that the upcoming “atmospheric river” is expected to bring 8-12 inches of rain to the Santa Cruz Mountains starting late Tuesday.
Also, heavy winds anticipated to pepper the Central Coast over the next few days, according to county spokesman Jason Hoppin, could potentially tumble trees and power lines and block evacuation routes for those leaving the area.
“The time to check your arrangements and get your go-bag ready, is now,” Hoppin said.
