California WildFires 2017

[fred&edna]

So damn scary!


When the devastating wildfires first erupted Sunday, Sonoma County officials decided not to to send out a mass alert warning residents of the danger, saying they wanted to avoid a mass panic in the area, according to SFgate.com.

Officials reasoned that if people in the area alarmed by the natural disaster began fleeing in droves, it would have hindered the efforts of first responders to tackle the blaze.

Many of the cell phone towers in the area were initially destroyed by the blaze, making it difficult to send warnings to people, so it's unclear how emergency alerts would have affected residents' responses.

The warning, called a Wireless Emergency Alert, are only able to reach phones in large geographic areas, according to Sonoma County Fire and Emergency Services Coordinator Zachary Hamill, who made the decision not to send the WEA.

'If I had done the Wireless Emergency Alert I would have been notifying Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Sonoma — all of the cities and unincorporated areas in the county,' Hamill said. 'And I didn't need to do that, I needed to focus on who specifically needed' help.

'Providing mass information to people not affected could have caused mass traffic backups, which could have impacted emergency service providers and delayed emergency response,' Jennifer Larocque, a spokeswoman for Sonoma County, told SFgate.

From Burblestein's post/link

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ia-wildfires-gain-momentum.html#ixzz4vLIbvvAj
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[GigTu]

Listening in on where they are working the fires, I heard an address that used to be Joe Montana's estate some years ago. Looking at these homes on google earth does not give them justice. Some of these homes being destroyed are amazing!

Some pics JM's home back then/ https://www.curbed.com/2012/1/20/10404948/49ers-legend-joe-montanas-outlandish-napa-estate-chopped

 

[LadyL]

sobering

Help from the Eureka Police Department headed south this morning. A trailer containing large animal food, gift cards and other necessities to help those affected. Please read the comment by a woman whose friend lost everything except her car. It is an eloquent description of the impact of this loss. Multiply that by thousands.

http://kymkemp.com/2017/10/11/epd-w...nations-for-fire-victims-in-mendocino-county/

 

[beatrixpotter]

This is just devastating.

 

[zencompass]

This is such crushing news. The deaths and devastation are heartbreaking and horrific.

Our community is gathering supplies and cash donations, just as all other areas are. We are so far away though.

We are all praying as hard as we can.

This is terrifying and I have not seen anything like this.

Prayers and thoughts go out to everyone affected by these fires.

Please know we are all thinking of you and our hearts are deeply saddened by your losses.

 

[Spellbound]

I’m sorry about your friend GigTu. Ugh. How can anyone look at Coffey Park and say it’s being sensationalized?!!

I’ve been waiting for the WS explosion too. Mostly crickets. Maybe people are numb after earthquakes, hurricanes and the Las Vegas massacre. But c’mon friends...this is MAJOR devastation for thousands with a death toll that is bound to rise. We should be at waaay more than 55 posts by now. Those of us who know the area are sick with disbelief even if we don’t have friends directly affected.

My apologies for not looking for this thread to be here. Thank you, Lilibet, for posting a link to here in another thread.

I have seen very little on TV news reports. :notgood: As bad as it sounds from all your updates in this thread, I do not understand why media isn’t covering more of this.

My thoughts, hopes, and heartfelt prayers go out to all who are or may be affected in any way by these fires.

Whole subdivisions are gone. A few days ago people had to flee in the middle of the night, leaving behind pets and sentimental items because maybe their neighbor's house was on fire already, or because their own house was already on fire when they were alerted by bangs on their door, and for a lot of people - they were only alerted when gas lines exploded and they had to leave NOW. All in the middle of the night.

I heard on a radio news show that overnight 42,000 acres burned last night. They have no control over it. They are still simply evacuating people, and not really having the resources to try to contain it. Transformers and downed lines continue to spark new fires in new areas.

This is really bad. Katrina bad. Thousands of families are now displaced and have lost everything. Every picture, every pet, every favorite chair, every expensive wall hanging, every handed down piece of jewelry, every favorite coffee cup, every memory has been wiped out. Fire is the devil. it's cleansing. It destroys fully. You don't go back and salvage something that was wet or dirtied. It;s incinerated. Gone. Forever. Can you grasp it? For thousands of people?

And it's not stopping. The winds continue. People are dead. 23 confirmed, a couple hundred missing. I am missing people. Real life people who love others, are kind and giving and beautiful people who happen to live in the area. They aren't winery owners. They are accountants and retail salespersons at the grocery store. They are mommies and truck drivers. The loss of wineries is the least concerning loss in these fires. They will grow back. Trees will grow back. But where will all of these people live? Where will the dead be buried? Where are all the cats and dogs that got left behind? Have you seen the pictures of the charred horses and cattle? Can you grasp the loss yet? And it's not stopping!

this is a very well written list that helps me to understand the devastation that is occurring. Thank you for this, GigTu. It really brings it into focus. And the sadness is deep.

Willits CA is safe, at least for now.

Our power never went off, though we lost our natural gas, cell phone, and internet. Our phones and internet have come back online. The library has served as a communications node, as it maintained wifi when other internet was down.

The Redwood Valley fire itself is to our southeast. If it burns up this way, it will come over Pine Mountain, south of town. As extensive woods do not extend into the Little Lake Valley, the open pastures should serve as a fire break for most of town. Unfortunately, our hospital is on the south end of town and may be at risk.

So, me and mine are a bit uncomfortable, but in no real danger. We are packed for evacuation, as a precaution. We are hunkered down, cooking on a microwave and conserving our warmth. Luckily, this is a moderate climate. If only other fire victims could be so fortunate....

Burblestein, please stay aware of the conditions and leave if it may impact you. I am at a loss for words appropriate to comfort you or those who must be feeling so anxious. Thank you so much for updating here. Stay safe.

 

[WVWoman]

Amazed at the destruction. Seen pictures being shared on SM so I came looking for a thread. Prayers for everyone effected by these fires I just cannot imagine [emoji20][emoji26].


[emoji237]Always My Own Opinion[emoji4]

 

[LaborDayRN]

One of so many who are searching for loved one. :tears:

EAGLE MOUNTAAIN, Utah -- Across Northern California, 26 people have died in the fires. The Mercury News in Sonoma County reported Thursday 400 people are unaccounted for.

Charlene Allen's mom, Norma Zarr, is one of those people.

“Somebody’s gotta know something somewhere," Allen said.

Allen lives in Eagle Mountain, Utah but is from the Santa Rosa area. Her mom recently moved back to the area, to a home on East Morris Court.

The area was forced to evacuate due to the threat of fires Tuesday. That is the last time neighbors told Allen they saw Zarr, who left in her silver Honda CRV, which is about 12 years old.

“I’ve definitely gone through the waves of feeling like I’m gonna throw up every five seconds to balling my eyes out to just getting my pen and paper out and doing everything I can to focus and put all my efforts into finding my mom so that she’s safe," Allen said.

Allen still has a lot of family and friends in the area who, despite some dealing with burnt down houses, are doing their best to help. Zarr's house is still standing, but she has not come home despite the evacuations being lifted.

http://fox13now.com/2017/10/12/utah...other-who-went-missing-amid-california-fires/

 

[LaborDayRN]

Local police and the sheriff's office are also helping. Allen's sister placed her mom on the sheriff's office's missing persons list. They have checked in on safeandwell.org to see if Zarr checks into a shelter. They have called hospitals. People are sharing the information on Facebook, the Santa Rosa Firestorm Update, and the Tubbs Fire Missing Person Report, but they still have had no luck yet.

When they call Zarr's phone, it goes straight to voicemail.

Norma Zarr is described as being 61 years old and standing 5-feet 8-inches tall. She weighs around 150-155 lbs. She grew up in Sonoma County and attended high school in Healdsburg.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Sonoma County Sheriff Office.
http://fox13now.com/2017/10/12/utah...other-who-went-missing-amid-california-fires/

 

[LaborDayRN]

Along with the people and pets, I'm also thinking of all the wildlife that must have been caught in the path of these fires. My heart is heavy.

 

[Spellbound]

Canyon 2 was only five miles form my house. Right over the hill from my law partner's home. (He briefly evacuated his kids) It destroyed my beloved Peter's Canyon which I go to at least 3 times a week.

My back and front yards are filled with what looks like charcoal and burned leaves but when you touch the charcoal, it disintegrates like ash.

We had no deaths and not anywhere close to the loss of homes as up north but I still cried to see the destruction.

That very morning I was hiking peter's canyon. I took a photo of a man with a bunch of dogs. It was super windy with Santa Ana winds and I was in the middle of dust storms at times.

A few hours later my law partner and I are were at lunch in Orange and the sky and smoke were insane. People who had been evacuated form Anaheim Hills were in the restaurant. We had no idea that within an hour or so it would jump over to the Cowan Heights area which where my law partner lives.

Within hours Peter's Canyon was decimated.

I could not believe what I saw up north. It is mind-boggling that huge swaths of flat neighborhoods were burnt to ash and all those people trapped and dead. I have never seen anything like that. It's usually houses in the hills near the wild areas. It seems to stop at a certain point when it starts entering neighborhoods. But not this.

I think we need those tsunami type alarms in neighborhoods that are vulnerable.

My sweet beloved gitana, I hurt all the more to know the sadness you are feeling. When you hurt, I hurt along with you. Sending love.

This is such crushing news. The deaths and devastation are heartbreaking and horrific.

Our community is gathering supplies and cash donations, just as all other areas are. We are so far away though.

We are all praying as hard as we can.

This is terrifying and I have not seen anything like this.

Prayers and thoughts go out to everyone affected by these fires.

Please know we are all thinking of you and our hearts are deeply saddened by your losses.

Along with your words, I am feeling so helpless. So much destruction and devastation recently has made me look at my meager surroundings and feel so blessed. I pray for the safety of everyone, but know that lives have (and will continue) been lost. Bless all those who are fighting these fires and keep them safe, too.

 

[crhedBngr]

Canyon 2 was only five miles form my house. Right over the hill from my law partner's home. (He briefly evacuated his kids) It destroyed my beloved Peter's Canyon which I go to at least 3 times a week.

My back and front yards are filled with what looks like charcoal and burned leaves but when you touch the charcoal, it disintegrates like ash.

We had no deaths and not anywhere close to the loss of homes as up north but I still cried to see the destruction.

That very morning I was hiking peter's canyon. I took a photo of a man with a bunch of dogs. It was super windy with Santa Ana winds and I was in the middle of dust storms at times.

A few hours later my law partner and I are were at lunch in Orange and the sky and smoke were insane. People who had been evacuated form Anaheim Hills were in the restaurant. We had no idea that within an hour or so it would jump over to the Cowan Heights area which where my law partner lives.

Within hours Peter's Canyon was decimated.

I could not believe what I saw up north. It is mind-boggling that huge swaths of flat neighborhoods were burnt to ash and all those people trapped and dead. I have never seen anything like that. It's usually houses in the hills near the wild areas. It seems to stop at a certain point when it starts entering neighborhoods. But not this.

I think we need those tsunami type alarms in neighborhoods that are vulnerable.

I am so very, very sorry to hear about this, Gitana. You, your law partner and all else affected by this are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Death toll climbs to 31 as vast devastation from firestorms comes into grim focus

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-northern-california-firestorms-20171012-story.html

 

[LaborDayRN]

'Just ash and bone': At least 31 dead, hundreds still missing as California wildfires rage

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — The death toll rose to 31 Thursday as California authorities began assessing the damage from the deadliest spate of wildfires to strike the state in more than 80 years, even while the blazes continued to flatten swaths of land and drive people from their homes.

in the city of Santa Rosa, officials reported nearly 3,000 homes destroyed. (Just in Santa Rosa!)

Taken together, the blazes have killed more people than the last disastrous fire to strike the state, the Oakland Hills fire in 1991. The death toll now matches that of the 1933 Griffith Park fire in Los Angeles — and is likely to rise as authorities continue to explore the wreckage.

“We all have suffered a trauma here, and we’re going to be a long time in recovering from this incident,” Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey told reporters Thursday afternoon. “The city of Santa Rosa has suffered a serious blow in these fires.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...fornia-wildfires-rage/?utm_term=.99c2b6559c99

 

[LaborDayRN]

More than 8,000 firefighters and support personnel are battling the fires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties in Northern California.

With firefighters stretched thin throughout the state, federal agencies as well as neighboring Nevada and nearby Washington state are assisting with resources. Authorities said 1,000 fire departments from San Diego to Oregon have joined the effort. Requests for resources have also gone out to Idaho, Montana, North and South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, as well as Australia, said Mark Ghilarducci, director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/31-dead-horrific-california-wildfires-hundreds-missing/story?id=50383162

Cali firefighters are truly the best of the best IMO. A huge :tyou: to all of them!

 

[MaryG12]

Utterly tragic - so many homes and buildings destroyed due to these fires - prayers for all affected.

 

[everybodhi]

I live west of Santa Rosa, I went there on Tuesday with a friend to check their house and it is gone.

I evacuated yesterday, I have a small ranch with animals and we are all safe now but the smoke is awful. I am in the Westin in SF where they have good filters for air and offering amazing rates if you have ID from an evacuated area. What a blessing.
Also, Airbnb has many free houses and rooms for evacuees, donated by the home owners.
Link for Free Airbnbs
I'm just trying to gather my wits now, and will drive to my daughters house in LA tomorrow or Saturday, as soon as I am up for it.
I am trying to hold it together, but, dang, y'all, it is devastating to see your town gone overnight.
I just hope my little Sonoma County dream home is still here when I get back.

 

[Hatfield]

I live west of Santa Rosa, I went there on Tuesday with a friend to check their house and it is gone.

I evacuated yesterday, I have a small ranch with animals and we are all safe now but the smoke is awful. I am in the Westin in SF where they have good filters for air and offering amazing rates if you have ID from an evacuated area. What a blessing.
Also, Airbnb has many free houses and rooms for evacuees, donated by the home owners.
Link for Free Airbnbs
I'm just trying to gather my wits now, and will drive to my daughters house in LA tomorrow or Saturday, as soon as I am up for it.
I am trying to hold it together, but, dang, y'all, it is devastating to see your town gone overnight.
I just hope my little Sonoma County dream home is still here when I get back.

Sorry to hear the fire is affecting you. Stay safe.

 

[zencompass]

Good to hear that this supertanker will be used.

From below article: "August 31, with 19 fires burning in California, the supertanker was called from Colorado Springs to help. In its first week, the plane made 13 flights and spread 219,000 gallons of fire retardant in 21 separate drops."

We need more of this.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...sed-supertanker-takes-on-california-wildfires

http://www.ocregister.com/2017/10/12/supertanker-finally-helping-fight-california-fires/

 

[zencompass]

I live west of Santa Rosa, I went there on Tuesday with a friend to check their house and it is gone.
View attachment 124603 View attachment 124605 View attachment 124606
I evacuated yesterday, I have a small ranch with animals and we are all safe now but the smoke is awful. I am in the Westin in SF where they have good filters for air and offering amazing rates if you have ID from an evacuated area. What a blessing.
Also, Airbnb has many free houses and rooms for evacuees, donated by the home owners.
Link for Free Airbnbs
I'm just trying to gather my wits now, and will drive to my daughters house in LA tomorrow or Saturday, as soon as I am up for it.
I am trying to hold it together, but, dang, y'all, it is devastating to see your town gone overnight.
I just hope my little Sonoma County dream home is still here when I get back.

Dear Everybodhi,

You are in my prayers.

Even during this time of great stress and evacuation - you show your great compassion for others by attaching a link for Free Airbnbs as well as telling others about the filters and rates at the Westin.

I will be thinking of you, as well as others, who will be journeying to safer places until you all can return.

All I have right now to offer are my prayers of hope and love and strength.

I wish that all of the residents leaving their homes can feel the strength of the immense care and love we are all sending your way.

God Bless you all.

Namaste,