Wildfires largely contained after powerful Santa Ana winds took down power lines by Bethany Blankley, The Center Square | January 21, 2021 09:30 AM Print this article
At least a dozen fires ignited across Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties after powerful Santa Ana winds blew in Tuesday, causing evacuations in several areas. By Wednesday, mandatory evacuations were lifted.
“Evacuation orders were lifted in Freedom and Panther Fires,” CAL FIRE San Mateo - Santa Cruz Unit announced shortly before 2 p.m. Pacific.
On Tuesday, a significant wind event swept through San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, which resulted in downed trees, tree limbs, and power lines across the region, and “presumably sparked more than 18 vegetation fires within an 18-hour time period,” CAL FIRE San Mateo-Santa Cruz reported. “Winds continued to hamper firefighting efforts throughout the day, but as night fell, conditions improved. Firefighters were able to grow