Governor of California Jerry Brown has issued a state of emergency for Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties as a result of the fires burning in wine country.
Wind-whipped wildfires broke out late Sunday night into early Monday morning in northern California’s wine country destroying buildings and forcing 1,500 homes to be evacuated and two hospitals.
Firefighters battled about 10 wildfires fueled by strong winds that have burned through more than 20,000 acres of wine country.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered across four counties including Sonoma and Napa County late Sunday as winds buffeted the area.
Windsor Fire Chief Jack Piccinini said that nearly every one of Sonoma County’s fire resources is being used, but it just isn’t enough.
‘Everyone in Sonoma County is spread out fighting these fires, but they don’t have enough resources to handle something like this. The only thing we can do is hope the wind will come down,’ he said.
Photo shows a home destroyed in the wildfires that have consumed northern California’s wine country
Firefighters have been working to control about 10 fires that broke out late Sunday night into early Monday morning
Mandatory evacuations have been issued across four counties including Sonoma and Napa
Two women hug as they watch houses burn in Santa Rosa, California
Image shows a hospital patient being evacuated in Santa Rosa as flames spread nearby
Deputies were dispatched to help firefighters and California Highway Patrol officers with evacuations, going to door to door to rush people to safety.
They worked to clear out two hospitals and senior centers in northwestern Santa Rosa.
Emergency lines were consumed with callers reporting smoke in the area, prompting officials to ask that the public ‘only use 911 if they see actual unattended flames, or are having another emergency.’
One woman said, ‘I drew my blinds and I just saw flames all up on the hill behind my house’.
Several people have been treated for burns and there are no reported fatalities at this time.
In Santa Rosa, Ron Dodds told KTVU he was helping his uncle evacuate said people were running red lights, and ‘there is chaos ensuing.’
‘It’s a scary time,’ Dodds added. ‘It looks like Armageddon.’
Emergency lines were consumed with callers reporting smoke in the area, prompting officials to ask that the public ‘only use 911 if they see actual unattended flames, or are having another emergency’
A woman tweeted a photo of the flames in Napa
Map shows the ares in California that are experiencing active wildfires
#GOES16 satellite now detecting 4 wildfires in the North Bay. 3 fires are near the Sonoma/Napa County line while the forth fire (called the ‘Atlas Fire’) burns to the NE of the City of Napa. Red Flag Warning remains in effect for strong and dry north winds. #cawx #atlasfire
– NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 9, 2017
Photo shows flames at an auto salvage yard that destroyed two structures and 50 to 100 cars
Downed trees were blocking parts of one rural road and fires were burning on both sides of Highway 12 as gusts reached up to 60 mph.
The Napa County Fire Department responded to flames at an auto salvage yard that destroyed two structures and reported 50 to 100 cars burning.
Community centers, the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and other local centers have been opened for evacuees.
A California firefighter said: ‘Our strategy right now is to get ahead of this fire and move people out of the way.’
This come after a summer filled with wildfires in California. This year a total of 6,744 fires have burned 731,260 acres.
Windsor Fire Chief Jack Piccinini said that nearly every one of Sonoma County’s fire resources is being used, but it just isn’t enough
The Signorello Estate winery burns in the Napa wine region in California
This year a total of 6,744 fires have burned 731,260 acres in California
