Santa Cruz County fire evacuees seek refuge on the shores

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION)

Cal Fire officials say they are still very active on the field trying to put out fires while many evacuees across Santa Cruz County make their way down to the shores to find solace and piece together their future.

"We know of a few people who already have lost their homes," says Ben Lomond evacuee Belle Tuttle.

"We stayed at a hotel for three nights, we just checked out this morning."

It has been 5 days since the start of the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires began in Santa Cruz County.

In Scotts Valley, a large part of the area has evacuated as smoke and flames continue to spread.

A Cal Fire official at a base camp in Scotts Valley said one of the biggest challenges in the battle against the fire is change in winds and unexpected weather.

He explains the damage so far in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties.

"As of this morning, we've been able to identify 97 structures that are damaged, we have multiple groups of damage inspection teams that are out conducting those surveys," says Cal Fire Battalion Chief Dan Olson.

Battalion Chief Olson says another challenge could be an oncoming thunderstorm system with the potential for additional dry lightning strikes.

Cal Fire is asking all Santa Cruz residents to remain vigilant and abide by evacuation warnings.