Clean up process after CZU Lightning Complex makes slow progress
In Santa Cruz County, the California Office of Emergency Services has reported real progress in their debris and toxic material removal program following last year's destructive fires.
What a big difference a week makes, last week temperatures were well into the hundred-degree mark, now, it’s cooler and damp, but don’t let that fool you those flare-ups can continue to happen for months to come.
"Unfortunately we didn't get the rains to put those things out so, I think, yeah we will still see little smokes popping up here and there hopefully deep in the interior," said Nate Armstrong, Cal Fire Deputy Chief San Mateo-Santa Cruz County unit.
Cal Fire continues to use infra-red cameras to monitor flare-ups that are popping up primarily in the Big Basin Forest in the interior of the CZU Lightning Complex fire burn zone.
"Any tie that we start to see that heat pick-up, the relative humidity really drops as well as wind that really gives the opportunity for those burned embers to really spark up," Armstrong said.
The California Office of Emergency Services has some good news about its major clearing work in fire zones. Statewide, 95% of the properties are cleared of debris and toxic materials. Santa Cruz County is right up there at 98%.
"This means that the property that has been cleared has gone through the entire process is one step closer to reconstruction to begin reconstruction. They can now work with the county," said Greg Renick, Cal OES information officer.
"So, we've been interacting with 216 families that have had burn impacts and we have 25 single-family dwellings either issued or close to being issued and that is the beginning of our curve," said Paia Levine, Santa Cruz County, assistant planning director.
Chuck Teixeira's house is on track to be completed this December.
While the OES. was conducting debris and toxic removal, he was having building plans drawn up.
"So, plans for the house, absolute key! And that way we could put our permits in. We could start our grading get our civil engineering all level out and get the process started," said Teixeira.
The Planning Department says the key for everyone in the rebuilding process to be on the same page -- plot the land showing where the footprint and the house is going to -- if everyone is coordinated hopefully there won't be any conflicts.