Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the oldest state park, thrived for 118 years before the CZU Lightning Complex fires in August 2020 consumed almost the entire 18,000-acre property in less than 24 hours. A wind shift put the park directly into the fire's path, turning spot fires into an inferno that destroyed about 100 structures, 85 miles of trails, 20 homes used by State Parks staff and a nature museum near opening. Most old-growth redwoods survived but were stripped of foliage and left with blackened trunks. Recovery efforts emphasize thoughtful, climate-adaptive rebuilding to create durable, resilient facilities and habitats.
In the early hours of the CZU Lightning Complex fires, ignited Aug. 16, 2020, the wind moved in a southern direction, forcing the light brown plumes of wildfire smoke over the Pacific Ocean and away from the historic facility and forest nestled deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains. But to the horror of the park's staff and an anxious public, the wind flipped on Aug. 18 and put the treasured local enclave directly in the fire's path.
What started as a few spot fires quickly transformed into a raging inferno that chewed through 100 structures, 85 miles of trails, 20 homes inhabited by State Parks staff and a new nature museum that was only months from opening. Most of the park's famous old growth redwoods, some standing at 1,800 years old, survived the harrowing ordeal but were stripped of any elegant greenery and left with broad trunks entirely blackened by flames.
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