2020 sure isn’t letting up. California is now battling roughly 367 known fires. Today, I decided to drive down the coast and document what I could of the ‪#CZUAugustLightningComplex‬ fire. This fire is just north of Santa Cruz, is burning over 25,000 acres and growing with 0% containment so far. It was a day I won’t forgot. On the lucky and semi-exciting side of being a photographer, I got to document my buddy and pilot friend @Jakelounsbury who use to fly me around SF and now fights fires and his co pilot @rlenzer. On the not so lucky and not exciting side of things, knowing a friend probably lost his home in this very fire. That part was unsettling to say the least. I was standing here in absolute awe, with a group of locals who were just evacuated, watching their land and homes burn away in the distance. Everyone was in decent spirits, but you could tell deep down how everyone was really feeling. Something I could not relate to, but I could definitely see it in them. I started talking with a nice gentleman named Andy, who was a local Arborist and lived in the now burned valley for the past 12 years. He mentioned and pointed at his three trucks filled with everything he could grab. We sort of knew this fire was going to come at us eventually. So before I decided to leave the area and get out of everyone’s way, I offered to help him shuttle his trucks, as he seemed to be alone. One by one a few miles down the road we went so that he could at least get them parked further from this fire zone. I know I can’t stop the fire and save the day, but I also felt I didn’t just want to stand there and be that come and go tourist. I love this area and have explored this coast for the past 10 years as a photographer. Never have I seen it like this. I am praying for these fires to let up and of course 2020 to end. Pictured is a Blackhawk H-60A+ Helicopter with a Bambi Max Bucket. Shots taken on August 19, 2020 near Whitehorse Canyon north of Davenport and the Santa Cruz area. Photos by @tobyharriman. ‪#natgeo #pegair#CaliforniaFires‬ ‪#santacruzfire‬ #blackhawk #santacruz #fire #pescadero (at Pescadero, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEGjOFVl4HX/?igshid=163s5zosvcf2u

Posted @withregram • @peopleandcountry #Repost @natgeo with @withregram ・・・ Photo by @FransLanting / A wildfire rages on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean and Highway One north of Santa Cruz, California. That night it grew to an inferno and raced through the nearby mountain communities of Last Chance and Swanton, destroying most of the homes there. We grieve for the losses of so many friends and neighbors and brace ourselves for the next outbreak of fire. Local weather reports are dominated by smoke forecasts and fire alerts go out when the wind increases. Everyone’s nerves are on edge. Our fire season will only come to and end when the first rains arrive. But in this era of climate chaos, rain too has become an uncertain prospect. Follow me @FransLanting for more stories from the edge of the fire zone. #CZULightningComplexFire #czuaugustlightningcomplex #californiafires #santacruzfire #wildfire https://www.instagram.com/p/CFKBKpCJ2Xt/?igshid=12dyny9e3j00s

Although it makes for some beautiful images this atmospheric layer of smoke over the Bay Area mixed with the fog here in Pescadero is making it almost as dark as twilight. The yellow glow over everything sets quite the tone. #czuaugustlightningcomplex #wildfires #climatechange #oddweather #strangedays #pescadero (at Pescadero, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE7KDd_gfD0/?igshid=1wqed3y9uaq2e

Today the evacuation orders for Pescadero were lifted as containment of the CZU Complex Fires gains traction. While we are immensely lucky to be able to return to our home and workshop we know for many this will be a long and arduous process and for some not a possibility at all. The coast and forests here have been our home and inspiration behind everything we do at Coastside Home Goods, before living in Pescadero we spent close to a decade in Bonny Doon nestled creekside in the redwoods. We cannot begin to imagine the loss members of our community are experiencing, not only of homes but also the special places like Big Basin so many of us here carry in our hearts. We do know however the resiliency and passion of those who live here and that this community will bounce back. We're trying to find our footing to help so as a start we will donating 50% of the sales of our Big Basin bars and 20% of any of our Coastside Soaps between @mypuente and Mountain Community Resources for the time being. Link in bio. #czuaugustlightningcomplex #puente #mountaincommunityresources #czurelief #bigbasinstatepark #pescaderostrong (at Big Basin Redwoods State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEaSm80A7zW/?igshid=1wp605j4anuks

#czuaugustlightningcomplex #santacruzmountains #firesky #sunbeams #stayinghopeful (at Summit House) https://www.instagram.com/p/CESSxkwDTi-/?igshid=1sn498xjmt1n8

“Следи за собой, будь осторожен“  ©

We wanted to take a minute to let everyone know we are safe and have not had to evacuate yet (this may change at any time and we're prepared to leave asap, this is the smoke activity we could see from our porch yesterday). Until then if anyone in Pescadero needs help please let us know. We're on PCR by CalFire, and will do what we can, please don't hesitate to reach out. #czuaugustlightningcomplex #pescadero https://www.instagram.com/p/CEHeG81ggGW/?igshid=1ncvywiqrd25m