SCU Lightning Complex fires

The SCU (Santa Clara Unit) Lightning Complex fires were wildfires that burned in the Diablo Range in California in August and September 2020 as part of the 2020 California wildfire season. The fire complex consisted of fires in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus counties.[1] The name is derived from the three-letter designation given to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) division responsible for the Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and parts of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, and the complex consisted of several distinct fires occurring in this region.[2]

SCU Lightning Complex fires
Part of the August 2020 California lightning siege
SCU Lightning Complex fires on August 22, 2020.
LocationSan Francisco Bay Area (East Bay); Central Valley
Coordinates37.439437°N 121.30435°W / 37.439437; -121.30435
Statistics[1]
Total area396,624 acres (160,508 ha)
Date(s)
  • August 16 – October 1, 2020 (2020-08-16 – 2020-10-01)
  • (47 days)[1]
CauseLightning
Buildings destroyed222[1]
Deaths0[1]
Non-fatal injuries6[1]
Map

The complex fire burned a total of 393,624 acres (159,294 ha) from August 16 to October 1, 2020, making it the fourth-largest overall wildfire recorded in California's modern history, surpassed only by the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire, the 2021 Dixie Fire, and the 2020 August Complex fire.[3] The SCU Complex was one of several fire complexes burning during August and September in California, most notably the LNU, CZU, and August complexes.[4]

Chronology

The fire complex started on August 16, 2020.[5][6] It consisted of three zones: the Deer Zone in Contra Costa County; the Canyon Zone in Alameda, Santa Clara and parts of Stanislaus counties; and the Calaveras zone in parts of Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties.[7]

On August 20, the fires reached Lick Observatory, an astronomical telescopic observatory operated by the University of California, located on Mount Hamilton.[8] One residential building not in use was destroyed, and some other residential buildings were damaged, but the telescope domes themselves did not burn.[8]

By August 26, the Deer zone was fully contained,[7][5] and the other Canyon and Calaveras zones had grown together into a single branch of the fire.[7]

On October 1, Cal Fire reported that the entire fire complex had been fully contained.

Fire impacts

Casualties and property damage

The fire complex had destroyed 222 structures, damaged another 26, and injured 6 people. No fatalities were recorded.[1]

Land ecology

A year following the fire the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) and Save Mount Diablo (SMD) monitored the fire impact on the 6,000 acres of the park district lands. Their observation was that the burn was mostly beneficial for the ecology of the region,[9] despite its extent. This was attributed to the fire's moderate to low intensity which spared most of the park trees, rejuvenated vegetation and triggered germination of rare species of fire poppies. The study prompted CalFire officials to consider increasing the use of prescribed burning in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

See also

References
  1. "SCU Lightning Complex". Cal Fire Incidents. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  2. Vainshtein, Annie (August 20, 2020). "LNU? SCU? CZU? How the Lightning Complex and other California fires get their names". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  3. Rogers, Morna (October 25, 2021). "Top 20 Largest California Wildfires" (PDF). fire.ca.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  4. Hwang, Kellie (September 4, 2020). "Three recent wildfires now among top 4 largest in California history: See Cal Fire list". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  5. "SCU Lightning Complex". Cal Fire Incidents. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. August 27, 2020. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  6. Hernández, Lauren; Swan, Rachel; Cabanatuan, Michael; Williams, Michael; Arredondo, Vanessa; Fracassa, Dominic; Li, Roland; Beamish, Rita (August 25, 500). "California fires live updates: Wildfires have burned almost 2,000 square miles in 10 days". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved August 25, 2020. SCU Complex fires that began Aug. 16 and affect steep terrain of Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties...
  7. "SCU Lightning Complex Fire: Deer Zone contained, some evacuations downgraded". ABC 10 News. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  8. "UC Lick Observatory Remains Safe From SCU Lightning Complex Fires". NBC Bay Area. August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  9. "East Bay Regional Park District, Save Mount Diablo Study Shows Fire Impact on Local Land". The Independent. August 18, 2021.
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