One death and 1,500 structures lost in Northern California firestorm [Update 17 dead]

[Right_in_Virginia]

One death and 1,500 structures lost in Northern California firestorm [Update:  17 dead]
LA Times, Oct 9, 2017

The vast devastation over just a few hours made this firestorm one of the worst in California history, with Gov. Jerry Brown declaring a state of emergency.

There have been injuries and people are unaccounted for, said Janet Upton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. She could not estimate the number of injuries. Officials said additional fatalities were possible as search efforts continued.

One of the raging fires had Santa Rosa under siege Monday morning, with a large swath of the city north of downtown under evacuation order.


More: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-napa-fires-20171009-story.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

PHOTOS: Massive Wildfires Tear Through Wine Country
KQED News, Oct 9, 2017

Firefighters are battling multiple wind-whipped fires in Napa and Sonoma counties that have forced an estimated 20,000 people to evacuate.

The fires broke out Sunday night as strong winds buffeted the area. Emergency lines were inundated with callers reporting smoke in the area.

Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott called the estimates of destroyed structures very conservative. Pimlott says as many as 14 blazes are burning throughout an eight-county swath of Northern California, including Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.

So far, approximately 57,000 total acres (89 square miles) have burned, with little to no containment.




More:  https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/10/09/photos-massive-wildfires-tear-through-north-bay/

[truth_seeker]

And we just got an alert for a fire in "Orange Park Acres," which extends to the 91 and 71 intersection.

A couple of weeks ago, a big brush fire within the Lost Angeles city limits, near Griffith Park.

Buckets of rain last winter, mean plenty of vegetation now. Months of (normal) dry weather, equals fire season. 

[Suppressed]

Fire destroys Fountaingrove Inn, Willi’s Wine Bar, Fountaingrove Roundbarn, other local landmarks
ROBERT DIGITALE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | October 9, 2017, 7:37AM | Updated 35 minutes ago.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7506978-181/fires-break-out-across-sonoma?gallery=7508401&artslide=0







The firestorm that raged from Napa County into Sonoma County and through Santa Rosa early Monday burned well-known businesses and local landmarks, damaging or destroying 1,500 structures and leaving behind scorched commercial blocks.

The destruction included the Fountaingrove Inn, a luxury 124-room hotel, and the nearby historic Fountaingrove Roundbarn, used for events including weddings.

The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country, a 250-room hotel, was also destroyed.

[...]

Excerpt.
My good friend's sister and her kids have been evacuated (mandatory).

[Right_in_Virginia]

And we just got an alert for a fire in "Orange Park Acres," which extends to the 91 and 71 intersection.

A couple of weeks ago, a big brush fire within the Lost Angeles city limits, near Griffith Park.

Buckets of rain last winter, mean plenty of vegetation now. Months of (normal) dry weather, equals fire season.

I was wondering if you were affected by this ... see California Statewide Fire Map:  http://www.fire.ca.gov/general/firemaps

(Keep us posted ...  **Hugs** )

@truth_seeker

[Sanguine]

That map is shocking!  Wow.

[truth_seeker]

I was wondering if you were affected by this ... see California Statewide Fire Map:  http://www.fire.ca.gov/general/firemaps

(Keep us posted ...  **Hugs** )

@truth_seeker

This fire is inland (North Orange County). The closest relatives of mine not too far away--mother and sister. My brother used to live very close to this fire, in Orange Park Acres, and in Anaheim Hills.

The 91 and 241 freeways are closed in both directions.

Only a few days ago, there was a fire within the Lost Angeles city limits, near Dodger Stadium, etc. That is 30-40 miles away, in distance.

It is fire season. Lush vegetation from winter rains, now dried and ready to burn. Burn it does.

Not much variation in terrain from San Diego to Santa Rose. Coastal mountains (reaching 5,000 ft. or more), steep canyons, windy, often surprisingly remote. Mountain lions, coyotes, snakes, etc. Hikers' and dirt bikers' paradise.

 

[Right_in_Virginia]

This fire is inland (North Orange County). The closest relatives of mine not too far away--mother and sister. My brother used to live very close to this fire, in Orange Park Acres, and in Anaheim Hills.

The 91 and 241 freeways are closed in both directions.

Only a few days ago, there was a fire within the Lost Angeles city limits, near Dodger Stadium, etc. That is 30-40 miles away, in distance.

It is fire season. Lush vegetation from winter rains, now dried and ready to burn. Burn it does.

Not much variation in terrain from San Diego to Santa Rose. Coastal mountains (reaching 5,000 ft. or more), steep canyons, windy, often surprisingly remote. Mountain lions, coyotes, snakes, etc. Hikers' and dirt bikers' paradise. 

Thanks for the update @truth_seeker   

[DB]

More than 10 dead so far. Expect the destroyed home/structure count to go up significantly.

For some perspective:

[Right_in_Virginia]

They've been battling 50 mile an hour winds all day ....   

More here:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4964696/Ten-killed-sky-turns-orange-California-wildfires.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

California Wildfires: Officials Get More Than 100 Missing Persons Reports
NBC News, Oct 10, 2017

LOS ANGELES — Powerful wildfires fanned by strong winds ravaged parts of Northern California's wine country on Monday, killing at least 11 people and destroying some 1,500 structures.

More than a dozen blazes continued to burn across eight counties since the weekend, while over 20,000 people in the paths of the fast-moving infernos fled their homes, fire officials said.

With increased resources headed to the region to battle the wildfires, "hopefully we'll start seeing some turnaround throughout the course of today and into tomorrow," Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean said Tuesday on TODAY.

More:  https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/western-wildfires/one-killed-major-wildfires-ignite-overnight-across-northern-california-n809206

[Suppressed]

April, eh?

[Right_in_Virginia]

April, eh?

Thank you!  Wrong link.  I'll fix.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Trump approves disaster declaration for California wildfires
The Hill, Oct 10, 2017



The Trump administration on Tuesday approved a federal disaster declaration for California in response to wildfires that have swept across the state.

Vice President Pence announced the decision during a meeting in the state capital of Sacramento with emergency responders.

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) had requested federal assistance to combat the deadly fires.


More:  http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/354736-trump-approves-disaster-declaration-for-california-wildfires

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Pure devastation": At least 17 dead as California wildfires continue to spread
Washington Post, Oct 11, 2017

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A series of historically deadly Northern California wildfires regained momentum Wednesday as winds whipped back up, pushing blazes through parched hills and vineyards and prompting more evacuations from an arc of flames that has killed at least 17 people, destroyed more than 2,000 buildings and battered the region’s renowned wine-growing industry.

Officials ordered a fresh round of mandatory evacuations in flame-battered Sonoma County, where one of the blazes, known as the Tubbs Fire, has killed 11 people. The massive fire, one of several that has been ravaging the region since Sunday, advanced overnight toward populated areas, prompting the additional evacuations, Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff Brandon Jones said.

Higher winds could hamper efforts to contain the fires over the next few days, fire officials said.


More:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/10/10/pure-devastation-at-least-15-dead-as-firefighters-struggle-to-weaken-california-fires/?utm_term=.cb506f592834

[Right_in_Virginia]

[Right_in_Virginia]

[Mom MD]

Prayers for all in their path.  This is terrible