Cal Fire reported the SCU Lightning Complex Fires are now 376,471 acres and are 45% contained.
Aug. 27 11 p.m. update:
The SCU Lightning Complex is now 35% contained and has burned approximately 369,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.
As firefighters have started getting the upper hand, all evacuation orders have been lifted.
Aug. 26 9:36 p.m. update:
Cal Fire officials confirmed Wednesday evening the SCU Lightning Complex fires are 367,371 acres and are 30% contained.
9 p.m. update:
The SCU Lightning Complex fires are 20% contained, Tuesday night, but has still scorched more than 365,000 acres of land across Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced and Stanislaus counties.
All evacuation orders for the fire have been lifted, with some being downgraded to warnings and others being allowed to expire altogether. The complex of multiple fires has been burning for six days.
5 p.m. update:
Some evacuation orders in Stanislaus County and Santa Clara County have been reduced to evacuation warnings.
Effective immediately, these areas in Stanislaus County are no longer under a mandatory order:
- North of Orestimba Road and Orestimba Creek in between I-5 and the fire perimeter to the Stanislaus/San Joaquin County line.
- South of the Stanislaus/San Joaquin County line in between I-5 and the fire perimeter to Orestimba Road and Orestimba Creek.
- East of the fire perimeter to I-5 in between Stanislaus/San Joaquin County line and Orestimba Creek.
- West of I-5 in between the Stanislaus/San Joaquin County line and Orestimba Road
These areas in Santa Clara County have been reduced to a warning:
- North of Magnolia Court and Magnolia Way
- East of Lower Thomas Grade along the East Dunne Corridor
- East of Highway 101 to Meltcalf Road, East of Coyote Creek, East of Cochrane Road, East of Hill Road, South of Main Ave. North of Dunne Ave., West of Shingle Valley Road, and Anderson Lake, to include the Jackson Oaks and Holiday Lake Estates
- South of Metcalf Road
3:00 p.m. update:
Cal Fire SCU hosted a press conference to provide updates on the SCU Lightning Complex Fire. You can watch the conference here:
Cal Fire reports that of the three fire zones, Deer, Canyon and Calaveras, the Deer zone is completely contained.
The Northern boundary of the fire and the majority of the Eastern boundary are also contained. Cal Fire says they are confident with this area at this time.
In the other two fire zones, the blaze has grown together in the middle, but Cal Fire says this is actually not the top priority right now.
Top priorities include the Southern side of the fire, and the Western/Calaveras side. Cal Fire is trying to top any more southerly movement, while also battling along populated areas to the west.
On evacuations, Cal Fire asked residents to be patient when it comes to returning to their homes. Though this is a top priority, it is not safe to lift evacuation orders at this time.
Unit Chief of Cal Fire SCU Jake Hess says that in the future and even now, officials will be ordering more people to evacuate, more often, and will give earlier warnings. Hess called the complex incident a "megafire."
"This is going to be a marathon we're on," Hess said, adding that Cal Fire and other agencies are pacing themselves due to the presumed length that these fires will continue to blaze.
1:00 p.m. update:
The surrounding areas affected by the SCU Lightning Complex Fire continue to experience unhealthy air quality.
Here are some tips on how to stay safe when it comes to smoke and ash in the air.
11:00 a.m. update:
Continued progress has been made on the SCU Lightning Complex Fire, according to a recent update on all California wildfires from Cal Fire.
There are still nearly two dozen major wildfires burning across California, which doesn't include the hundreds of smaller fires also ablaze. Last night there were 10 new fires, which Cal Fire calls "not a significantly busy day."
However, in combination with the major wildfires and Red Flag Warnings, Cal Fire anticipates another day of working hard to quell the blaze.
The Red Flag Warning for the Sacramento Valley and Bay Area has been lifted, though it remains in effect for parts Northern California and the northeast.
While the some areas currently battling the blaze were thankfully spared from dangerous lightning strikes this weekend, Cal Fire says some areas inland along the Sierra Crest were subject to that dry lightning. Those extreme weather patterns are expected to continue into today.
"Be on the lookout, of course, for any smoke plumes from that new lightning," Cal Fire said.
7 a.m. update:
Cal Fire SCU reports that the SCU Lightning Complex Fire has reached 347,196 acres and is now the third largest fire in California's history. The fire is 10% contained as of Monday morning.
A Red Flag Warning throughout the day as there is still a chance of dry lightning and gusty winds, which could spread the fires even further.
Stretched thin with the multiple fires burning in California, Cal Fire is allocating a large number of firefighters and equipment to the SCU Lightning Complex Fire alone.
A total of 1,336 personnel and 152 engines are fighting the fire, with departments from a vast landscape --from San Joaquin County to Contra Costa County, from Pleasanton to Morgan Hill.
Three first responders and two non-first responders have been injured as a result of working on the SCU Lightning Complex Fire, but Cal Fire reports no deaths.
Evacuation orders, both mandatory and warnings, are still in effect at this time for areas in Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Stanislaus County, and San Joaquin County, and Merced County. Cal Fire also reports that San Benito County is affected by the fires, though no evacuations have been reported yet for this area.
Some temporary evacuation points where those fleeing the fire can find sanctuary include:
- Creekside Middle School (535 Peregrine Drive, Patterson)
- Milpitas Library (160 N Main St., Milpitas)
- Ann Sobrato High School (Performing Arts Building, 401 Burnett Ave., Morgan Hill)
Roads are closed at Holiday Drive at East Dunne Ave., Coyote Reservoir Road at Roop Road, Canada Road at Highway 152, and Highway 152 at Belle Station. Other road closures are in effect for Del Puerto Canyon Road (SR-130) between Mines Road and Diablo Grande Parkway, Highway 130 at Three Springs Road and Highway 130 at Quimby Road.
The SCU Lightning Complex Fire began on Sunday, Aug. 16 with multiple fires that eventually merged with two other major fires in the area, creating the large blaze that fire crews are battling today.
"Top priorities are civilian and fire fighter safety and the protection numerous structures and critical infra stature threats with the allotted resources," Cal Fire said.