Raging Wine Country Wildfires Burn Homes; Force Evacuations

CBS SF Bay Area News ^ | 10/08/2017 | CBS Staff

[Freedom56v2]

NAPA (CBS SF) — Wind-whipped wildfires roared to life Sunday night and early Monday across Wine Country, burning building, forcing evacuations and injuring several people.

The Atlas Peak fire was the largest of several wildfires, quickly growing to more than 200 acres near Napa. Meanwhile, the fire near Calistoga had burned several building and sent several people to the hospital to be treated for burns.

Cal Fire said firefighters were battling several blazes in Sonoma County. The largest was in the area of Porter Creek Road and Petrified Forest Road near Calistoga where mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents along Porter Creek, Petrified Forest, Franz Valley and Mountain Home Ranch Rd.

Early Monday morning, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department said fires had erupted at Mark West Springs and Riebli roads in Santa Rosa, at Shiloh and Conde roads in Windsor and at Highway 116 and Fredericks Road in Sebastopol.

The fires had stretched Sonoma and Napa counties firefighting resources to the breaking point. A call for mutual aid was issued to other Bay Area fire departments.

[little jeremiah]

It’s because of environazis. Same thing in OR. New heads of BLM and US Forest Services so hopefully they will be sensible.

[Freedom56v2]

I was 300 yards from where the Nun’s Canyon fire started. Simply, a huge gust of wind and a few minutes later, smelled smoke and we were off to the races. A deputy just gave me a store bought sandwich; first real food since Sunday.

_________________________

Wow!!! I appreciate your posting this...We who are not there are trying to understand what happened, what it is like!

Deputy brought you a sandwich—first real food since Sunday?!?! Wow, I just don’t know what to say.

Wish there was more national press coverage on this...seems to have been far less on these record fires than some of the other disasters even tho the fires got worse!

I hope you have a place to return to, and can do so soon!!!

Keeping you and yours in my thoughts and prayers, rey.

[Califreak]

Thanks.

Me too. :)

[Freedom56v2]

California doesn’t practice scientific forestry so they don’t log strategic firebreaks or make small preventative fire burns, unlike states like Alabama that do.

Thus, California gets larger forest fires than states like Alabama.

And that’s how it will always be until they “Change.”

---

Gee Red, thanks so much for stopping by and posting this rather unsympathetic comment here on a thread where people are talking about evacuating and nearly dying, friends who have lost everything, Freepers not having eaten for 5 days, etc. You really get what is going on with our West Coast Freepers...

So no one is certain how these fires started, and I am not sure that all in California would agree that “California does not practice scientific forestry like Alabama,” so it is a really good thing that you know all about it, and you do without even having a PhD in Forestry or working for the state of California. Amazing.

Even though you did not share whether you have actually ever been to Sonoma, it is great that you can offer up the solution of strategic firebreaks...even though some of the many fires started in the valley, by a tract subdivision near Santa Rosa and burned out commercial buildings like KMart and McDonalds, not forests.

Well thanks so much for the encouraging ending “And that’s how it will always be until they “Change.” I’m sure the California Freepers will appreciate your kind thoughts.

Keeping California wine country and it’s residents in my thoughts and prayers.

nd

[Freedom56v2]

BTW, the vineyards actually act as a firebreak—so in Sonoma they were practicing “scientific forestery.”

[Freedom56v2]

Why the flames in Sonoma are so hard to beat!

[Southack]

To make a strategic firebreak, which is a requirement for scientific forestry, the width between vineyard rows has to be fairly wide...otherwise the fire jumps the gaps.

You can compare California's fire sizes to nearby Oregon, Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.

You can compare those fire sizes to states that practice scientific forestry.

...or you can just act hurt, lash out, and Change nothing.

[Freedom56v2]

Retraced my steps from Sunday... #winecountryfires #napafires #sonomafires @NRanchwinery @rafterlstables https://t.co/rY0NeLgW5j— Wilson Walker (@Wilson_Walker) October 13, 2017

[fatima]

:) So your still alive.Back in your place or did you evacuate.?((((Hugs))))

[Freedom56v2]

I am not hurt nor am I lashing out...Frankly, I feel eh disappointed/sad...You just don’t seem to fully understand what people are going through or the purpose of the thread. It is about concern and providing support and news for those who have family or live in the area, or just care about the area...I put it up last Monday afternoon because there were none in Breaking News at the time, and I felt that people would want/need to know news and have a place to provide support here at FR. That is the gist of the majority of the posts here.

Sadly your initial post and this one here remind me of what someone said to me about my mom when she passed away after a long bout with lung cancer...”Oh she shouldn’t have smoked.”...They did not know if she smoked, they did not ask if she had smoked. They offered no support...They just stated facts as they saw them and then walked away. I did not ask them for their comment either...

So, yeah, it would have been really nice if you would have had the courtesy to offer up your expertise as a suggestion and perhaps offer support and concern rather than some dry “fact” about what California does not do—and perhaps implying it is the Californians’ fault~not needed here during this fire....

Would have been nice if you had provided links to your expertise, since you did not post as opinion but rather fact...and links are especially nice since you don’t list a PhD in Forestry...

Would have been nice since you did not post a link to indicate just how you know what California does or does not do...Actually they do cut trees as a firebreak...similar to a controlled burn...I would be happy to provide link:

http://www.wsj.com/video/to-prevent-wildfires-california-cuts-down-trees/34C5452D-1963-4DE2-B7A9-8209A1A881BC.html

I did not make it up about the vineyards acting as a natural firebreak...regardless of your stating they lack the specifications to count...they actually did act as a firebreak...Again, here is a link:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-vineyards-firebreak-20171012-story.html

Among the many theories as to the cause of this particular fire (the worst in their history), some have said that one contributor may be that due to the very wet winter (a record rain), there was a lot of new growth that then dried out and made great tinder for fires...Look at my post of a diagram an actual Californian posted...Oh speaking of Californians, how many times have you been to Sonoma?

As I said, several fires started by town...started all at once. Odd...Not sure your firebreaks and “scientific forestry” would have done much in a town...Oh and there were 70 mph winds and it is the driest month for that area.

I cannot speak of Mexico or Oregon...but Arizona has had some huge fires.

As far as change goes, is this really the time? People are are living in evac centers after fleeing with close on their back...People are worried about friends and family who are missing...450+ still missing :( People are worried about looting and what their homes are going to be like when they return. A Freeper posted they were given a sandwich by a patrolman today—first real food they had eaten since fires started on Sunday!!...Do you think they want to hear about “Scientific Forestry” right now? More likely that they would like to know that people are concerned, people are donating to the various groups that have been posted, and most importantly that people are keeping them in their thoughts and prayers.

[Concentrate]

Let’s see... We’re going to build thousands of homes in the dry western woods, with dry underbrush building up for 50 some odd years. What could go wrong? Duh!

Maybe the .gov will save us!

I have the same sympathy for those who have built expensive houses on the beach at sea level. None. (Well maybe a little)

Insure yourselves!

[no-to-illegals]

Coordinated??? Wouldn’t surprise me ... see tagline

[Freedom56v2]

Let’s see... We’re going to build thousands of homes in the dry western woods, with dry underbrush building up for 50 some odd years. What could go wrong? Duh!

Maybe the .gov will save us!

I have the same sympathy for those who have built expensive houses on the beach at sea level. None. (Well maybe a little)

Insure yourselves!

---

Seriously??? This is your response to the worst fire in California history...and Freepers, their friends, and families are going through this—I am sure they appreciate your “support.”

Why would you think properties in Sonoma county would not be insured? In fact, likely most of the homes are fully insured because you have to have insurance in order to get a mortgage. Period.

The area is not all woods...The area is a huge agricultural area...Sonoma County produces the most wine of all in California...There are farms producing other crops too...So how much time have you spent in Sonoma?

Not sure what you mean about “Maybe the gov will save us” (what do you want people to be stranded and die??) However, Friend, this thread was set up for providing news and support for people who are going through this record fire...and the people who have friends and family there or just care about the situation...Your hard-hearted snark comments seem out of place.

[Freedom56v2]

From this updated article, it looks like the containment numbers are improving :) Hoping for some cooperative weather.


Most of the flames ignited on the night of Oct. 8 or during the early morning hours of Oct. 9.

Here's a roundup of the largest fires still threatening California:

Central LNU Complex fires:

The so-called Tubbs, Pocket, Nuns/Adobe/Norbbom, Pressley fires are considered branches of one giant inferno — collectively known as the Central LNU Complex — in Napa and Sonoma counties. Nearly 34,000 structures are threatened, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Altogether, the four fires have destroyed 1,063 structures and damaged 48 others.

Tubbs fire: 35,270 acres burned in Napa County; 44 percent contained as of Friday night; at least 571 structures destroyed; responsible for a majority of the fire-related deaths this week.

Pocket fire: 9,996 acres burned in Sonoma County; 5 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Nuns/Adobe/Norbbom fires: 44,381 acres burned in Sonoma County; 5 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Pressley fire: 473 acres burned in Sonoma County; 10 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Southern LNU Complex fires:

The Atlas and Patrick fires make up another huge blaze, known as the Southern LNU Complex, in Napa and Solano counties that collectively threatens 5,000 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Altogether, the two fires have destroyed 181 structures and damaged 27 others.
Atlas fire: 8,228 acres burned in Napa and Solano counties; 27 percent contained as of Friday morning; at least 125 structures destroyed.

Patrick fire: 12,379 acres burned in Napa County; 18 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Mendocino Lake Complex fires:

The Redwood/Potter fires and the Sulphur fire make up a giant blaze, known as the Mendocino Lake Complex, in Lake and Mendocino counties that collectively threatens 1,000 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Altogether, the two fires have destroyed 369 structures and damaged another 43.

Redwood/Potter fires: 34,000 acres burned in Mendocino County; 10 percent contained as of Thursday night.

Sulphur fire: 2,500 acres burned in Lake County; 55 percent contained as of Thursday night.

Wind Complex fires:

The Cascade, La Porte, Lobo and McCourtney fires make up one huge blaze in Butte, Nevada and Yuba counties, collectively known as the Wind Complex, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Altogether, the four fires have destroyed 366 structures and damaged 13 others.

Cascade fire: 10,120 acres burned in Yuba County; 55 percent contained as of Friday morning.

La Porte fire: 6,139 acres burned in Butte County; 45 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Lobo fire: 821 acres burned in Nevada County; 65 percent contained as of Friday morning.
McCourtney fire: 76 acres burned in Nevada County; 95 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Other major fires:

Canyon 2 fire: 9,217 acres burned in Southern California's Orange County; 65 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Cherokee fire: 8,417 acres burned in Butte County; 70 percent contained as of Friday morning.



http://abcnews.go.com/US/dazed-californians-brace-extreme-fire-behavior-death-toll/story?id=50458481

[Freedom56v2]

New: Mandatory Evacs for Santa Rosa :(

[Freedom56v2]

Wind Map Bay area:

North Bay Firestorm: Whipping winds headed for Bay Area https://t.co/GY4qbNrLjb pic.twitter.com/e5cLonON8C— KRON4 News (@kron4news) October 14, 2017

[Freedom56v2]

According to the Tweeter, this is an accurate, interactive map of the fires:

Finally what seems like a really great, accurate map of the #WineCountryFires. Thank you, @sfchronicle https://t.co/dRQNJfuzR2— Margaret Goerig (@MaggiesKitchen) October 14, 2017

[fatima]

Northern California Major Incident - Live Audio Feed Web Player
https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/20854/web

[fatima]

Josh Caplan‏ @joshdcaplan 3h 3 hours ago More Dramatic bodycam footage shows sheriff's deputy rescuing disabled woman from wildfire in Santa Rosa, California.

Dramatic bodycam footage shows sheriff's deputy rescuing disabled woman from wildfire in Santa Rosa, California. pic.twitter.com/0AjVXqgUkh— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) October 14, 2017

[Freedom56v2]

Thanks for posting this. Do you know where they are located what town?