SCU Lightning Complex fires
The SCU (Santa Clara Unit) Lightning Complex fires were wildfires that burned in the Diablo Range in California in August and September 2020 as part of the 2020 California wildfire season. The fire complex consisted of fires in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Merced, and Stanislaus counties. The name is derived from the three-letter designation given to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) division responsible for the Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and parts of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, and the complex consisted of several distinct fires occurring in this region.
| SCU Lightning Complex fires Part of the August 2020 California lightning siege | |
|---|---|
SCU Lightning Complex fires on August 22, 2020. | |
| Location | San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay); Central Valley |
| Coordinates | 37.439437°N 121.30435°W |
| Statistics | |
| Total area | 396,624 acres (160,508 ha) |
| Date(s) |
|
| Cause | Lightning |
| Buildings destroyed | 222 |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 6 |
| Map | |
The complex fire burned a total of 393,624 acres (159,294 ha) from August 16 to October 1, 2020, making it the fourth-largest overall wildfire recorded in California's modern history, surpassed only by the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire, the 2021 Dixie Fire, and the 2020 August Complex fire. The SCU Complex was one of several fire complexes burning during August and September in California, most notably the LNU, CZU, and August complexes.