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| Firefighters beating back deadly California wildfires, official says | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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. |
| 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”. | 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”. |
| 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. | 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, 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. | 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. | 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. They had already spent days digging firebreaks to keep flames from reaching the city’s historic central plaza, built centuries ago under Spanish rule. | 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 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. | 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. |
| No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility. | No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility. |
| 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. | 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. | 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.” | “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. | 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. | 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 on to 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. |