Santa Cruz cities prepare for fire arrival

Aug. 21--SANTA CRUZ -- Preparing for the worst-case scenario, the City of Santa Cruz activated its emergency operations center Friday morning.

"We are optimistic that we are not going to have to evacuate," said Santa Cruz Fire Chief Jason Hajduk. "We are optimistic that the fire is not going to impact the City of Santa Cruz. However, we are making plans in case it does happen."

Hajduk encouraged city residents to "prepare yourselves and the city for the fight I hope we never have to fight" by pre-packing important possessions, preparing pets for traveling, securing flammable materials outside the home and signing up for reverse 911 notifications and Cal Fire news evacuation alerts at tinyurl.com/CZUlightning and following Cal Fire CZU Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Santa Cruz's announcement came in the wake of UC Santa Cruz declaring a state of emergency. The sprawling campus was ordered to evacuate Thursday evening, marking a grim milestone extending evacuation orders -- if not the fire itself -- into the Santa Cruz city limits for the first time.

UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive ordered the close of the main residential campus as well as the coastal science campus and Westside research park Thursday, a process launched as a self-initiated voluntary effort.

"Based on the chancellor's emergency declaration, ALL employees and students living in campus housing must evacuate," UCSC Police Chief Nader Oweis wrote in a campus alert. "Everyone must immediately leave the UC Santa Cruz residential campus and be prepared to not return for at least two weeks."

Oweiss said campus police would go door to door to evacuate the campus, adding that anyone entering or remaining in the area after being ordered to evacuate could be held criminally liable.

The Cocoanut Grove at the Boardwalk was listed as the evacuation center for students and staff living on campus. Shuttles and Metro buses continued to operate to help move residents off the campus.

Cal Fire officials said Thursday that they were preparing contingencies to ensure that the fireline did not extend across the city border, even as advancing blaze forced the evacuation of Paradise Park just up Highway 9 and the closure of Henry Cowell State Park due to unhealthy air quality and staff needing to tend to fire-related issues. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Chris Clark said Friday morning that one of his deputies observed an active fire about 1 mile north of Twin Gates on Thursday.

"We're working on developing plans to keep it out of the city," Cal Fire Assistant Chief Billy See said Thursday night.

Watsonville, too, announced Friday afternoon that it had declared "Local State of Emergency" due to sending several teams of firefighters and some 30 police officers to assist in firefighting and related needs. The city was working with Cal Fire to establish a temporary air traffic control tower at the Watsonville Airport and had closed-off and designated runways for Cal Fire use only. The Watsonville Parks and Recreation Department were gearing up Friday to assist in the opening that night of a new evacuation shelter at Lakeview Middle School on East Lake Avenue, with additional possible shelter locations identified in town.

Reps. Jimmy Panetta and Anna Eshoo, have joined a group of 26 federal legislators across California in writing a letter to urge President Donald Trump to immediately grant the state's request for a "Major Disaster Declaration" for fires that have broken out in nine counties in the past week.

Additional Santa Cruz evacuations sites

--Santa Cruz Bible Church, 440 Frederick St., Santa Cruz. Room for 76 evacuees as well as parking.

--Seventh-day Adventists Conference Grounds, 1931 Soquel-San Jose Road, Soquel.

--Congregational Church of Soquel (parking only), 4951 Soquel Drive, Soquel. Bathrooms available for evacuees.

--Twin Lakes Church (parking only), 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos. Up to 50 cars and RVs, bathrooms, water and food available.

--Cabrillo College Lot K (parking only), 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.

--Parking lot and grounds of Coastlands Aptos Foursquare Church, 280 State Park Drive, Aptos. Open to cars, RVs and tents. (Limited tents available on-site).

--Gymnasium of Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Congregate shelter.

--ADA-compliant shelter: Simpkins Family Swim Center, 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz. Room for 25 evacuees.

Shelter at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds remains open. Shelter at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium remains open but is full.

For help in English and Spanish, visit santacruzcounty.us/FireResources.aspx.

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