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Wildfires in Northern California Force Mass Evacuations Wildfires in Northern California Force Mass Evacuations
(about 1 hour later)
Fast-moving wildfires raged across several counties in Northern California overnight, forcing the evacuation of at least two hospitals and numerous neighborhoods early Monday, the authorities said.Fast-moving wildfires raged across several counties in Northern California overnight, forcing the evacuation of at least two hospitals and numerous neighborhoods early Monday, the authorities said.
Firefighters were battling blazes in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino and Butte Counties, officials said. Smoke billowed into the Bay Area, but the Marin County Fire Department reported that there were no separate fires in the area.Firefighters were battling blazes in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino and Butte Counties, officials said. Smoke billowed into the Bay Area, but the Marin County Fire Department reported that there were no separate fires in the area.
Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency proclamation for Napa, Sonoma and Yuba Counties, saying the fires had damaged critical infrastructure and threatened thousands of homes.
Reports suggested that residents in the region were caught unawares, many of them fleeing the area in cars and on foot as firefighters rushed to contain the outbreak. There were no immediate reports as to what had caused the fires.Reports suggested that residents in the region were caught unawares, many of them fleeing the area in cars and on foot as firefighters rushed to contain the outbreak. There were no immediate reports as to what had caused the fires.
A number of neighborhoods in Santa Rosa, the county seat of Sonoma, were evacuated, according to the city manager, who said the Kaiser Permanente and Sutter hospitals were being cleared out.A number of neighborhoods in Santa Rosa, the county seat of Sonoma, were evacuated, according to the city manager, who said the Kaiser Permanente and Sutter hospitals were being cleared out.
Lisa Kaldunski, an operator at Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, said around 6:30 a.m. local time that the facility was being evacuated and that patients were being taken to other area hospitals.Lisa Kaldunski, an operator at Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, said around 6:30 a.m. local time that the facility was being evacuated and that patients were being taken to other area hospitals.
Marc Brown, a spokesman for Kaiser Permanente, said about 130 patients had been evacuated from the Santa Rosa medical center because of the fires.
The Lake and Mendocino County sheriffs’ offices ordered a number of evacuations. The Butte County sheriff announced that there were two fires in the area and listed neighborhoods where evacuation was mandatory.The Lake and Mendocino County sheriffs’ offices ordered a number of evacuations. The Butte County sheriff announced that there were two fires in the area and listed neighborhoods where evacuation was mandatory.
Belia Ramos, the chairwoman of the Napa County board of supervisors, said the county was dealing with three main fires. One has threatened more than 10,000 acres in northern Napa County, another has endangered 8,000 to 12,000 acres, and a third has affected about 2,000 acres, she said.Belia Ramos, the chairwoman of the Napa County board of supervisors, said the county was dealing with three main fires. One has threatened more than 10,000 acres in northern Napa County, another has endangered 8,000 to 12,000 acres, and a third has affected about 2,000 acres, she said.
Ms. Ramos said the fires were moving quickly and unpredictably. She said she did not know how many people had been evacuated early Monday, but added that the areas being evacuated were large and densely populated.Ms. Ramos said the fires were moving quickly and unpredictably. She said she did not know how many people had been evacuated early Monday, but added that the areas being evacuated were large and densely populated.
“Certainly we know that the numbers are high,” she said. “As day breaks and we get a better handle on this situation, we’ll be able to update those numbers.”“Certainly we know that the numbers are high,” she said. “As day breaks and we get a better handle on this situation, we’ll be able to update those numbers.”
California was hit by fires throughout the summer. Late last month, several blazes led to the evacuation of about 1,000 people in Southern California. October is part of the region’s dry season, and much of the Bay Area has not experienced significant rainfall since spring.California was hit by fires throughout the summer. Late last month, several blazes led to the evacuation of about 1,000 people in Southern California. October is part of the region’s dry season, and much of the Bay Area has not experienced significant rainfall since spring.
Ms. Ramos said Napa County had thus far been spared similar conflagrations. Still, she said, the county had no shortage of experience with emergencies.Ms. Ramos said Napa County had thus far been spared similar conflagrations. Still, she said, the county had no shortage of experience with emergencies.
“We have been rocked by earthquakes and we have been inundated by floods,” she said. “We’ve had our fair share of these types of natural disasters.”“We have been rocked by earthquakes and we have been inundated by floods,” she said. “We’ve had our fair share of these types of natural disasters.”