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'A horror no one could have imagined': California wildfires kill 40 Firefighters beating back deadly wildfires, official says
(about 4 hours later)
The California wildfires raced toward wineries and the historic town of Sonoma on Saturday, chasing hundreds more from their homes and threatening to roll back firefighters’ modest gains against blazes that stretched across a 100-mile stretch of northern California. The death toll rose to 40. A California state fire spokesman said on Sunday it appeared firefighters were making good progress against deadly wildfires that started a week ago, devastating wine country and other parts of the rural north.
“It’s a horror that no one could have imagined,” Governor Jerry Brown said, after driving past hundreds of “totally destroyed” homes with US senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris. Daniel Berlant, spokesman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said some of the most stubborn fires were more than 50% contained. Weather conditions were much better than 24 hours previously, and winds expected to kick up overnight had not materialized.
The death toll stood at 40. Some 300 people remained unaccounted for, though officials thought they would locate most alive. Most of the deceased were believed to have died late on 8 October or early on 9 October, when the fires exploded in the dead of night. Most victims were elderly, though they ranged in age from 14 to 100.
At least 5,700 homes and businesses had been destroyed, making the fires the deadliest and most destructive in state history.
“It’s a horror that no one could have imagined,” Governor Jerry Brown said, after driving past hundreds of “totally destroyed” homes with US senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris on Saturday.
Brown, 79, and Feinstein, 84, said the fires were the worst of their lifetimes. The two veteran politicians reminded people that the blazes remain a threat and that people need to leave their homes when told to go.Brown, 79, and Feinstein, 84, said the fires were the worst of their lifetimes. The two veteran politicians reminded people that the blazes remain a threat and that people need to leave their homes when told to go.
Nearly a week after the blazes began, the fires have destroyed at least 5,700 homes and businesses, making them the deadliest and most destructive group of wildfires in California history. Some 300 people remain unaccounted for, though officials think they will locate most of those people alive. Seventeen large fires still burned across the northern part of the state, with more than 10,000 firefighters attacking the flames using air tankers, helicopters and more than 1,000 fire engines. Signs posted in Sonoma thanked the firefighters. One declared them “heroes among us”.
Most of the deceased are believed to have died late on 8 October or early on 9 October, when the fires exploded and took people by surprise in the dead of night. Most of the victims were elderly, though they ranged in age from 14 to 100. Air tankers streamed red retardant to halt the spread of flames while other planes and helicopters made targeted water drops. In a rural section of Santa Rosa, a low-flying helicopter dumping load after load of water on homes and mansions sent startled cattle stampeding.
For those living in the huge fire zone, it was another night spent watching, waiting and fearing the worst. John Saguto said he woke several hours before dawn at his home east Sonoma to see flames “lapping up” 300 to 500 yards away. He and his neighbors evacuated as firetrucks raced up and down the streets and hot embers flew over their heads. For those living in the huge fire zone, Sunday dawned after another night spent watching, waiting and fearing the worst. John Saguto said he woke several hours before dawn at his home east of Sonoma to see flames “lapping up” 300 to 500 yards away. He and his neighbors evacuated as firetrucks raced up and down the streets and hot embers flew over their heads.
Propelled by stiff winds, the fire made “a strong run” into Sonoma and damaged or destroyed additional buildings before firefighters stopped it, said Dave Teter, deputy director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Several homes and other structures near a vineyard east of downtown were in ruins. Firefighters hosed down embers and knocked down walls that could topple over. They had already spent days digging firebreaks to keep flames from reaching the city’s historic central plaza, built centuries ago when the area was under Spanish rule. Propelled by stiff winds, the fire made “a strong run” into Sonoma and damaged or destroyed additional buildings before firefighters stopped it, said Dave Teter, deputy director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
As of Saturday afternoon, Teter said crews did not expect any more losses in that area. But gusts up to 25mph were forecast for the rest of the day. Several homes and other structures near a vineyard east of downtown were in ruins. Firefighters hosed down embers and knocked down walls that could topple. They had already spent days digging firebreaks to keep flames from reaching the city’s historic central plaza, built centuries ago under Spanish rule.
From the sky, large subdivisions that burned to the ground looked like black and white photos. Each neatly outlined lot is full of ashen rubble. Cars are burned a darker gray. Trees still standing are charred black. Only streets look unscathed. No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility. From the sky, large subdivisions looked like black and white photos, each neatly outlined lot full of ashen rubble. Cars were burned a darker gray. Trees still standing were charred black. Only streets looked unscathed.
Although some evacuees were returning home in Mendocino County, the latest estimates were that about 100,000 people were under evacuation orders as the fires burned for a sixth day. Some evacuees weary from nearly a week on the run demanded to return home or to see if they still have homes. Plans were in the works to reopen communities but they were not ready to be put into effect, Teter said. No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility.
At an evacuation center at the fairgrounds in the Sonoma County city of Petaluma, volunteers sorted through mounds of donated baby wipes, diapers, pillows, shoes and clothing. Randy Chiado and his wife, Barbara, evacuated on Monday from the Oakmont section of Santa Rosa. They stayed for several days with a friend in Santa Rosa but left on Saturday when flames approached again and sought refuge at the fairgrounds. Although some evacuees were returning home in Mendocino County, the latest estimates were that about 100,000 were under evacuation orders across the state. Some demanded to see if they still had homes. Plans were in the works to reopen communities but they were not ready to be put into effect, Teter said.
Mendocino County is 70 miles north of the more well-known and more heavily populated Napa and Sonoma counties. Some residents felt they were being ignored as they dealt with their own catastrophic wildfires.
“We have been hit just as hard as anyone,” said Sonya Campbell, who lost her house. “I don’t get why we aren’t getting any attention.”
Thousands were evacuated in Mendocino County and hundreds lost their homes. Eight died, including 14-year-old Kai Shepherd, whose parents and sister suffered severe burns.
At an evacuation center at the fairgrounds in the Sonoma County city of Petaluma, meanwhile, volunteers sorted through mounds of donated baby wipes, diapers, pillows, shoes and clothing. Randy Chiado and his wife Barbara evacuated on Monday from the Oakmont section of Santa Rosa. They stayed for several days with a friend in Santa Rosa but left on Saturday when flames approached again.
“After so many times of ‘It’s coming, get ready. It’s coming, get ready,’ it just gets nerve-wracking,” Barbara Chiado said.“After so many times of ‘It’s coming, get ready. It’s coming, get ready,’ it just gets nerve-wracking,” Barbara Chiado said.
Life away from home has been difficult and dangerous. Randy Chiado said a man who may have assumed he was a looter tried to punch him through his car window and yelled for a friend to get a gun when the Chiados turned onto a residential street. He said he was able to push the man off and drive away. Life away from home has been difficult and dangerous. Randy Chiado said a man who may have assumed he was a looter tried to punch him through his car window and yelled for a friend to get a gun when the Chiados turned on to a residential street. He said he was able to push the man off and drive away.
The couple planned to spend the night with other evacuees in a room set up with cots. “It’s like jail,” he said.The couple planned to spend the night with other evacuees in a room set up with cots. “It’s like jail,” he said.
In all, 17 large fires still burned across the northern part of the state, with more than 10,000 firefighters attacking the flames using air tankers, helicopters and more than 1,000 fire engines. Signs posted in Sonoma thanked the firefighters. One declared them “heroes among us”.
Throughout the day, fires continued to flare and burn through forested areas, engulfing extremely dry vegetation. Air tankers streamed red retardant to halt the spread of flames while other planes and helicopters made targeted water drops. In a rural section of Santa Rosa, a low-flying helicopter dumping load after load of water on homes and mansions sent startled cattle stampeding.