Known officially as the :

"CZU AUGUST LIGHTNING COMPLEX FIRE."

On August 16, 2020, a lightning storm caused as many as 13,000 lightning bolts to strike the ground in several places in Northern California.
This caused several fires. There were about a dozen major fires at the same time. The largest --SCU Lightning Complex Fire-- covered an area over 600 square miles. (Larger than the island of Oahu, Hawaii.)

In Santa Cruz County and San Mateo County, several fires started about 6:41 AM. They joined and became a forest fire covering over 135¾ Square miles (over 86,500 acres). About 1,490 structures were destroyed and about 140 structures were damaged. It lasted through August and into September. More structures were damaged in this fire than the earthquake of 1988.

Repopulation of the evacuated areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains began September 20. According to the California Department of Forestry, the fire officially completed September 23, 2020 at 8:00pm.

Hundreds of residents chose to stay in the mountains. Some formed fire teams to look for spot fires. Others reported looters to the Sheriff and a few were able to run off looters. The Sheriff Office reported over a dozen arrests for looting. Some were from out of state.

One fatality, Tad Jones, the Last Chance Road resident who lost his life trying to escape the fires.

Thousands of people had to be evacuated in Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Bonny Doon, Brookdale, and Felton, A voluntary evacuation of Scotts Valley was recommended. Neighborhoods from Swanton Road to Empire Grade were in danger.

During the first week of the fire, ashes and burned leaves were falling on neighborhoods as far south as Watsonville. Even areas 20 miles away were being covered with smoke, making it difficult to breath. The sky was darkened with smoke, sometimes blocking the sun from view.