Scotts Valley residents relieved to be back home

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (KION) Residents in Scotts Valley are slowly returning after days of being evacuated from their city because of the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire.

It was an exciting day in Scotts Valley when the evacuation orders for the city were lifted at around 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Evacuees coming off Highway 17 on Mount Hermon Road were greeted with smiles, waves and the words: Welcome Back Scotts Valley.

"You know, seven days out of their homes, worrying about things like their animals, what's going to happen to their house, worried sick about many, many things," said Mayor Randy Johnson, of the City of Scotts Valley.

The Scotts Vally mayor and others were holding signs and greeting evacuees coming home, showing appreciation for how resilient their citizens are.

Citizens like Sara Rigler, who evacuated from her home in Boulder Creek at first, then a few days later from Scotts Valley when another order went out.

"I stayed in a tiny bedroom with two animals and a friend and they just poured their heart out and I'm just overwhelmed with gratitude," said Rigler.

Rigler has lived in the San Lorenzo Valley area for 23 years. She has seen fires around the state, but never so close to home this far-reaching.

Cal Fire CZU unit says over 700 structures are gone, with about 13,000 still threatened by the raging fires. But the fire fight has improved enough to allow some residents to return.

"We're beginning to see some change in our weather. Today, most of the morning was covered with a marine layer that prevented us from flying our aircraft. But in turn it also gave us a lot of help on the ground bringing some of the moisture up so it helped mitigate some of the fire spread and slow that quite a bit," said Cal Fire Chief Mark Brunton.

But it is not over yet for evacuees deep in the San Lorenzo Valley like Boulder Creek resident Sharon McCorkell, who is now staying with Rigler in Scotts Valley.

"And so it's kind of like half way home. I'm feeling really good about that and she's a good friend and I know her home well," said McCorkell.

It is stories like these, of helping one another, that is defining this valley right now.

"I'm thankful for our residents. How they've responded, how they did it with very little complaint," said Mayor Johnson.

"I think we have amazing resilience and strength and we have a real sense of community," said Rigler.

And authorities do ask for your patience if you are still under evacuation orders. They are looking to have more good news in the coming days, but it will take time as first responders try and ensure everyone's safety coming home.