Fire Recovery Archives - Page 3 of 6 - San Lorenzo Valley Post

CZU Fire Survivors Navigate Difficult Rebuilding Decisions

November 8, 2021September 28, 2023 slvpost.com2 Comments

By M.C. Dwyer Last month, a group of us REALTORs was spurred into action when a unanimous vote of the County Board of Supervisors (“Board”) created the CZU Rebuild Directive. On its surface, the vote seemed positive for those who’d lost their homes in the CZU fires last August (“survivors”). In theory, this would have allowed survivors to rebuild without… Read More

Fire Recovery Infrastructure Local News

Power Outages: PG&E Responds

September 24, 2021October 9, 2021 slvpost.com0 comment

Staff Report Thanks to citizen outrage and outreach to PG&E over frequent and increasing power outages in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the public utility held an online community meeting on September 24. Residents and recent outage maps reported dozens of service interruptions lasting from 45 minutes to 9 hours or more. The problem arose after PG&E installed their new tripwire… Read More

Column: Antonia Bradford Fire Recovery Local News

County Supervisors Fail to Ease Rebuilding Rules for CZU Survivors

September 17, 2021June 20, 2022 slvpost.com0 comment

By Antonia Bradford “We are up against a very strict timeline and the insurance companies don’t care if they make us homeless. Ironically, just this morning I got an email from Nationwide stating that we have till April to build our home. That’s 8 months from now!” – Julie Lucia, Fallen Leaf Neighborhood “Homes that are still standing and located… Read More

Fire Recovery Local News

Meet Dan Walters, Zayante’s New Fire Chief

September 9, 2021September 21, 2021 slvpost.com0 comment

By Mary Andersen After 33 years serving Santa Cruz and Felton fire districts, longtime local Dan Walters is overseeing the Zayante Fire Protection District. He succeeded outgoing chief John Stipes at the end of July this year. “My main goal going forward is to educate the community on the fire risks that continue today and then to improve opportunities for… Read More

Fire Recovery Local News

Fire Recovery Lags

September 3, 2021September 17, 2021 slvpost.combonny doon, central coast, Davenport, last chance road, Swanton0 comment

By Jayme Ackemann When a 4Leaf, Inc. consulting geologist made three trips to Last Chance resident Ali McCargo’s Davenport property and couldn’t find it – Ali became concerned. Santa Cruz County promised a “streamlined process” when San Lorenzo Valley residents began returning to their fire-devastated communities. But fire survivors are asking what that really meant as we reflect on the… Read More

Column: Antonia Bradford Fire Recovery Local News

Rebuilding Challenges Continue

August 29, 2021September 4, 2021 slvpost.com0 comment

By Antonia Bradford In the year since the CZU Fire of 2020, fire families have been grieving and processing our losses all while trying to work, raise children, and rebuild our homes. For many of us, rebuilding efforts have been stalled by Santa Cruz County’s Planning Department. Before the smoke cleared last year, we were assured by County officials that… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Fire Recovery Real Estate

SLV Homes: Defensible Space and Home Hardening

August 1, 2021September 28, 2023 slvpost.comdefensible space, fire recovery, home hardening0 comment

By M.C. Dwyer Given the one year anniversary of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, here’s a summary of the Santa Cruz Association of Realtors Fire Safety and Prevention Panel, presented by Mark Bingham, Boulder Creek Fire Chief; Mike Ayers, Ben Lomond Assistant Chief; Mike DeMars, Fire Marshall Central Fire District; and Greg Vandervoort, Fire Prevention Captain at Scotts Valley Fire… Read More

Christopher Bradford Fallen Leaf Boulder Creek

Column: Antonia Bradford Fire Recovery Local News

CZU Fire Families: Rebuilding Stalled

July 25, 2021August 29, 2021 slvpost.com3 Comments

By Antonia Bradford On August 16th, 2020 the Santa Cruz Mountains experienced an intense dry lightning storm that sparked the CZU fire. The fire burned for 38 days, destroying 1,490 buildings including the homes of 911 families. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the fire this month, it’s a good time to check in with the status of recovery… Read More

Los Angeles Fire Department Photo by Thomas Andersen

Fire Recovery Local News

SLV Homeowners Could Bear the Cost of State’s Proposed Rules for High Fire Risk Neighborhoods

July 16, 2021September 18, 2021 slvpost.comcommunity council1 Comment

By Jayme Ackemann According to the state’s proposed rules changes for high fire risk neighborhoods, some San Lorenzo Valley communities are “missing infrastructure.” This is a sophisticated way of saying the roads create hazards for emergency vehicles accessing our neighborhoods. If the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection passes their proposal it would require roads in high fire risk communities… Read More

Fire Recovery Local News

CZU Fire Quilts Spread Cheer

July 14, 2021July 24, 2021 slvpost.com0 comment

By Mary Andersen The Pajaro Valley Quilt Association (PVQA) gifted handmade quilts to local firefighters in gratitude for their service to the community during the CZU Lightning Complex fires. Barbara Lockwood from CZU Lightning Fire Quilts Facebook group said, “No material goods can adequately thank firefighters who risk their lives daily, but the Pajaro Valley Quilt Association elected to gift… Read More