Gov. Gavin Newsom meets with fire emergency responders in Big Basin

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE 9/1/2020 3:45 p.m. Gov. Gavin Newsom toured Big Basin Redwoods State Park Tuesday and met with emergency responders.

Cal Fire said during the press briefing that they expect to see ecological changes as a result of the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires that damaged the park, saying the area may not have seen something on this scale for about 500 years.

The Cal Fire spokesperson said that with extra resources and a change in weather, the fire is up to 72% contained at just over 85,000 acres.

State Parks officials estimate that it will be at least a year before Big Basin reopens to the public. They said some of the trees still standing will come down because they have weakened and roads and drainages still may be damaged in the aftermath.

In the future, Cal Fire intends to continue conducting prescribed burns to prevent fire, and a spokesperson said they are committed to conducting more. About 500 projects have been identified statewide, and they will be sorted to identify priorities.

During the press briefing, he also introduced the new Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Armando Quintero.

On Monday, a firefighter from Oregon died while working in the Mendocino National Forest. Newsom said the son of Oregon's governor was working on that strike team, but was uninjured.

PREVIOUS STORY: Gov. Gavin Newsom is in Big Basin Redwoods State Park Tuesday to survey damage caused by the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires and meet with emergency responders.

At its last update, Cal Fire said the fire has burned 85,218 acres and is 43% contained. About 6,700 structures are still threatened and 921 homes have been destroyed.