COMMUNITY NEWS
Refuge in a Firestorm N ormally at this time of year, the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds would be getting ready for the annual county fair, 4-H kids and their animals, garden produce, crafters and collectors, and an extravaganza of food booths and entertainment. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for physical distancing to slow the spread of the contagious coronavirus, that event is not taking place.
“Cal Fire� from page 14 Looters were a concern, with multiple arrests made, until the Sheriff’s Office bolstered its forces with personnel from around the county and out of the area, as many as 90 officers on the weekend to deter burglars. Another issue has been people returning to their property to check on their homes and retrieve forgotten items, potentially causing conflicts with firefighters’ plans to dump water or retardant, or worst case, residents trapped by fallen branches or power lines, requiring a rescue. One man was cited after he tried
However, 500 people evacuated by the CZU Lightning Complex fires have sought refuge at the fairgrounds, according to Jeannie Kegebein, CEO of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation. That’s not all. Kegebein estimates 180 horses, 500 chickens and rabbits, 300 goats, sheep, lambs and pigs and 20 exotic animals are here, too. That doesn’t include the pet dogs
to sneak back home, using a back way, getting lost and spending two nights in the woods until a friend of his called deputies. Clark said the search took 126 hours plus a helicopter to extricate him out of the terrain, and a deputy was injured riding a mountain bike to the rescue. On Tuesday, Santa Cruz County released a map where property owners can look up their address and check the status of their home: https://www. santacruzcounty.us/FireRecovery/DamageAssessmentMap.aspx A green marker indicates no damage. Orange means 26-50 percent damaged. A red marker means destroyed. n
and cats that evacuees are keeping in their tents, many of which were donated. And there’s a hospital set-up and a clothing store. Restaurants and individuals have brought food for the evacuees. “The community has been so generous,� said Kegebein. She feels a personal connection – “my old home burned,� she said. n
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / September 1st 2020 / 21
