Fighting CZU Lightning Complex fire cost $68 million
Burned vehicles and debris from homes are left after the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in Boulder Creek, Calif.
(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)
By Hannah Hagemann
SANTA CRUZ
August’s CZU Lightning Complex fire the largest blaze in Santa Cruz County history, according to CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Cal Fire Unit employees cost more than $68 million to fight.
“This was a historic event and I hope we never have to have another fire any bigger than what we already had,” said CZU Unit Chief Ian Larkin. “We exhausted every available resource that we had available to us.”
$68 million price tag to fight CZU Lightning Complex fire [Santa Cruz Sentinel, Calif.]
Mar. 16 SANTA CRUZ August’s CZU Lightning Complex fire the largest blaze in Santa Cruz County history, according to CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Cal Fire Unit employees cost more than $68 million to fight.
“This was a historic event and I hope we never have to have another fire any bigger than what we already had,” said CZU Unit Chief Ian Larkin. “We exhausted every available resource that we had available to us.”
On Monday evening, CZU Unit staff hosted an online webinar, reflecting on the wildfire and lessons learned. The resounding message from Cal Fire was that firefighter staffing numbers were not sufficient to fight to the CZU Complex fire.