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Firefighters beating back deadly California wildfires, official says Firefighters 'turn a corner' but deadly California wildfires continue
(about 5 hours 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. With winds dying down, fire officials said on Sunday they had apparently “turned a corner” against wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week. Thousands got the all-clear to return home.
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. While the danger from the deadliest, most destructive cluster of blazes in California history was far from over, the smoky skies started to clear in some places.
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. “A week ago this started as a nightmare and the day we dreamed of has arrived,” Napa County supervisor Belia Ramos said.
At least 5,700 homes and businesses had been destroyed, making the fires the deadliest and most destructive in state history. People were being allowed home in areas no longer in harm’s way, and the number of those under evacuation orders was down to 75,000 from nearly 100,000 the day before. Fire crews were able to gain ground because winds that had fanned the flames did not kick up overnight as much as feared.
“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. “Conditions have drastically changed from just 24 hours ago and that is definitely a very good sign,” said Daniel Berlant of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, who noted that some of the fires were 50% or more contained. “It’s probably a sign we’ve turned a corner on these fires.”
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. The blazes were blamed for at least 40 deaths and destroyed some 5,700 homes and other structures. Most victims were elderly, though they ranged in age from 14 to 100. The death toll could climb as searchers dig through the ruins. Hundreds of people were unaccounted for, though authorities said many were probably safe but had not let anyone know.
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”. In hard-hit Sonoma County, Sheriff Rob Giordano said authorities had located 1,560 of more than 1,700 people once listed as missing. Many were put on the list after people called from out of state to say they couldn’t reach a friend or relative.
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. “It’s a horror that no one could have imagined,” said Governor Jerry Brown, 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 and reminded people that the blazes remain a threat and they should leave their homes if told to go.
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. County officials said they would not let people return home until it was safe and utilities were restored. Crews worked around the clock to connect water and power, in some cases putting up new poles next to smoldering trees, the sheriff said.
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. Many evacuees grew impatient to at least find out if their homes were spared. Others were reluctant to go back or to look for another place to live. Juan Hernandez, who escaped with his family from his apartment on 9 October before it burned down, still had his car packed and ready to go in case the fires flared up again and threatened his sister’s house, where they have been staying in Santa Rosa.
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. “Every day we keep hearing sirens at night, alarms,” Hernandez said. “We’re scared. When you see the fire close to your house, you’re scared.”
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. Evacuation orders were lifted for Calistoga, a Napa Valley city of 5,000 known for its mud baths, mineral spas and wine tastings. The city was cleared out on Wednesday as winds shifted but homes and businesses were spared.
No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility. At the Sonoma fairgrounds, evacuees watched the San Francisco 49ers play Washington on television, received treatment from a chiropractor and got free haircuts. Michael Estrada, who owns a barber shop in neighboring Marin County but grew up in one of the Santa Rosa neighborhoods hit hard by the blazes, brought his combs, clippers and scissors.
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. “I’m not saving lives,” he said. “I’m just here to make somebody’s day feel better, make them feel normal.”
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. Lois Krier, 86, said it was hard to sleep on a cot in the shelter with people snoring and dogs barking. She and her husband, William Krier, 89, were anxious to get home but after being evacuated for a second time in a week on Saturday they didn’t want to risk having to leave again.
“We’re cautious,” she said. “We want to be safe.”
Nearly 11,000 firefighters were still battling 15 fires across a 100-mile swath of the state. In the wooded mountains east of Santa Rosa, where a mandatory evacuation remained in place, a large plume of white smoke rose as firefighters tried to prevent the fire from burning into a retirement community and advancing on to the floor of Sonoma Valley, known for its wineries.
Houses that had benefited from repeated helicopter water drops were still standing as smoke blew across surrounding ridges. A deer crossed the highway from a burned-out area and wandered into a vineyard not reached by the flames.
Some evacuees were returning home in Mendocino County, 70 miles north of the more well-known and more heavily populated Napa and Sonoma. Some residents felt they were being ignored as they dealt with their own catastrophic fires.
“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 and hundreds lost 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. No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility.
“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.
The couple planned to spend the night with other evacuees in a room set up with cots. “It’s like jail,” he said.