Cal Fire Battles Blazes Tuesday In San Mateo County

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — As strong, gusty winds battered the Bay Area and Central Coast Tuesday, Cal Fire CZU was busy battling wind-sparked wildfires in San Mateo County.

Cal Fire CZU, which covers San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, said around 7 a.m. Tuesday that it had responded to at least 10 vegetation fires in the past 12 hours.

"All engines are committed to these fires today, with more resources coming in from other units," Cal Fire wrote on Twitter.

Some of those fires have been reported within the area of the CZU August Lightning Complex fire burn scar. Last year, the lightning-sparked fires killed one person and scorched more than 85,500 acres and destroyed nearly 1,500 buildings across San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, though mountain communities in Santa Cruz County sustained most of the damage.

The CZU Lightning Complex fires were just declared controlled late last month.

The latest string of fires comes amid a period of dry weather and a high wind warning in the Bay Area and Central Coast, which is set to expire at 10 a.m. Winds were expected to gradually weaken throughout Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Winds nearly reaching hurricane force were reported in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where gusts of greater than 70 mph were observed.

Downed power lines and tree limbs were reported in the Bay Area, according to NWS.