Santa Cruz wildfire forces evacuations

Residents of southern Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties have been ordered to evacuate due to the CZU August Lightning Complex.

At least 22,000 residents in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties have been forced to evacuate.

The fires were started on Sunday by a series of lightning strikes. Extreme record heat and dry conditions in the area helped fuel the blaze’s growth and have made containment difficult.

The heavy smoke has covered the Bay Area, significantly reducing visibility and air quality.

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