CZU Lightning Complex Fires: What You Can Do to Help

August 21, 2020
We are deeply saddened to hear about the ongoing destruction caused by the CZU Lightning Complex. The fire is continuing to burn and is destroying mountain communities, beloved trails, and historic outdoor spaces like Big Basin State Park. Due to the ongoing danger and poor local air quality, we have canceled all trailwork (both volunteer and otherwise) for the time being. While you may not be able to join us out on the trails right now, there are a few key ways you can help our community at this important moment.

  • If you are a local resident, please stay alert and follow Santa Cruz County and CAL FIRE orders.

    • If you are evacuated, please leave immediately and do not return until further notice. Evacuation resources can be found here.
    • Here is a master document where you can find additional resources and submit individual needs or offers.
    • If you are a local resident interesting in offering volunteer support, please consider signing up for a shift at the CAL FIRE call center on Ocean Street to answer questions that local residents may have about the fires. Shifts are two hours each, and you can sign up via this link.

  • If you are a current visitor to either Santa Cruz or San Mateo County, please leave immediately. We currently have 60,000+ evacuees in need of safe shelter, and every single hotel room makes a difference.

    • If you have a trip to Santa Cruz planned for the weeks ahead, please postpone. We need open roadways for firefighters and evacuees, and our area cannot sustain tourism right now (it's pretty smokey anyway!). Travel advisory info can be found here.

  • If you are not in the area but want to support our community:

    • Check in on your friends who live in evacuated areas. They would love to hear from you.
    • Use this master doc to offer up a room or storage space to evacuees
    • Donate to the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz's Fire Response Fund
We’ve shared a handful of resources for Santa Cruz residents on our Instagram, and you can access these posts by clicking on our CZU Lightning highlight. Our hearts go out to the Santa Cruz Mountains community and the lands that make this part of the world so special. We'll do our best to keep this post updated with additional resources as they pop up. Please stay safe and take care of each other.
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