On August 17th 2020 a series of Severe Thunderstorms hit the Bay Area. The storm broke off from Tropical Storm Fausto and although the morning showers cooled off the area the temperature in Santa Cruz broke a record and reached 107F and Death Valley reach a staggering 130F. Multiple lightning strikes stated numerous fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. These fires grew and turned into one huge fire threatening Big Basin and Boulder Creek on Aug 18th and filled the sky with smoke and ash.
Big Basin HQ Aug 18th (by S. Blake)
By Aug 19th closures were numerous and 22,000 people were ordered to evacuated the area and the smoke had reached far with Reno, NV being blanketed in smoke at hazardous levels. On August 20th, 2020, 8:26:57 AM PDT the 10 Minute Average US EPA PM2.5 AQI was 242 with 201-300: Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects if they are exposed for 24 hours.
Mt Rose in Smoke Aug 19th
Mt Rose on a Clear Day
Update 08/19/2020: SPPO working on a full park closure of Henry Cowell Redwoods SP and evacuations of the campground(s). Damage assessment for Big Basin Redwoods SP. Park Headquarters, Ranger office, Basin store, Nature Lodge, and Old Lodge are a total loss. All campgrounds and J Camp Housing are also being labelled as a total loss. Wastewater treatment will not be evaluated at this time due to possible hazardous chemicals. SPPO working on assessment of the freshwater treatment plant.
Update: 08/19/2020 at 1253 hours. Estimated at 10,000 acreage at zero containment. Damage assessment at Big Basin Redwoods SP complete. Freshwater treatment plant and equipment spared but ancillary buildings, pump house, and utilities surrounding building are damaged and/or destroyed. Upper residences are a total loss. The maintenance yard with the exception of some ancillary buildings and the fuel pumps are a total loss. All maintenance vehicles at the yard are destroyed
Photos from Santa Cruz Sentinel
Update Aug 20th brought more sad news from Big Basin.
Cal Fire 6AM Thursday Aug 20th Press Conference:
40,000 acres have burned, a 15,000 acre increase in the last 24 hours. The fire could grow much more over the next 48-72 hours. Visibility is so poor an air attack is not possible at this time. Cal Fire is fighting fire conditions that they have never seen before in coastal mountain ranges. Our area does not have a significant fire history, unlike interior forests in California, which makes this fire much more dangerous. The dryness of the forests in our area is at historically high levels in forests that haven't burned in our lifetimes, so there is a lot of fuel for the fire. Evacuations will be the priority over the next 30 hours, and people will be very firmly encouraged to leave. During the next day and a half authorities will be trying to remove as many people as possible to minimize human casualties.
The air quality as measured in Ben Lomond on August 20th, 2020, 9:13:55 AM PDT the 10 Minute Average US EPA PM2.5 AQI was now 659 with >401: Health warnings of emergency conditions if they are exposed for 24 hours. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
Update AUG 21
Update AUG 22
Acres Burned: 57,000
Damage: 97 structures destroyed
Containment 2%
Here’s a NY Times article on the impact of the fire on Big Basin.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/us/big-basin-redwoods-ca-fires.html
Firefighters reported progress in containing the fires across Santa Cruz due to calmer winds, lower temperatures, and increased moisture from the marine layer. Crews managed to hold control lines in north around La Honda and Pescadero and south to Davenport but along Highway 9, the blaze made a small push into Boulder Creek. The National Weather Service issued a “fire watch” from Sunday to Tuesday as thunderstorms move northward. Resources are limited in the Ben Lomond and Bonny Doon area (reference SJ Mercury News).
Evacuation orders remain in place for all of San Lorenzo Valley from China Grade and Saratoga Toll Road to the north to Davenport, Bonny Doon, and UCSC in the south. Also, Felton, Zayante Canyon, and the Scotts Valley area west of Highway 17.
Big Basin HQ (photos by San Lorenzo Valley Post)
more photo here ( https://smartnews.link/w/LPTw)
Update Aug 23
Acres Burned: 67,000
Damage: 115 structures destroyed
Containment 5%
Cal Fire crews had success overnight moderating the fire front. Sunday morning weather conditions allowed helicopters and aircraft to drop water on the complex fire that strengthened the containment lines.
Evacuation Area 8-23-2020
Update Aug 24
Monday fire status with red dots showing where satellites detected fire within the previous 12 hours. Orange dots show the previous 12-24 hours, and yellow, 24-48 hours. (National Interagency Fire Center).
Fire Status on Monday Aug 24th
Update 8-25-2020
Acres Burned: 78,684
Damage: 276 structures destroyed, 28 structures damaged
Containment 13%
BOULDER CREEK, Calif. (AP) — When a massive wildfire swept through California’s oldest state park last week it was feared many trees in a grove of old-growth redwoods, some of them 2,000 years old and among the tallest living things on Earth, may finally have succumbed.
But an Associated Press reporter and photographer hiked the renowned Redwood Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Monday and confirmed most of the ancient redwoods had withstood the blaze. Among the survivors is one dubbed Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest. Also, Steller’s Jays searched for insects around the park’s partially burned outdoor amphitheater and woodpeckers could be heard hammering on trees.
Next update will be when the BBVTC returns after safety issues have been addressed.