The deadliest wildfire event in California’s history has killed 31 people, though the death toll is likely to increase as rescue operations continue.
About 8,000 firefighters were battling more than 20 infernos on Friday (October 13), but hot and windy weather has made containment almost impossible.
Winds of up to 60 mph (100 kph) and humidity of just 10 percent will create “critical fire weather conditions” and “contribute to extreme fire behaviour” on Friday afternoon and into Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
Wildfires have scorched about 19,000 acres of land in California since October 8 and the Tubbs fire has claimed the lives of 17 people in Santa Rosa alone.
Where is Santa Rosa?
Santa Rosa is a city in Sonoma County and a part of Northern California’s famous Wine Country.
Some 400 people have been reported missing in Sonoma County, sparking fears that the overall death toll will rise further.
Of the 17 fatalities in the county, most from Santa Rosa and almost all were elderly; the average age of victims identified is reportedly 75.
Shocking images coming out of Santa Rosa show the extent of the damage to the city.
Entire streets have been reduced to smoking piles of ash and stunned Californians can be seen picking through the rubble of what was their town.
Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey told reporters today: “We all have suffered a trauma here, and we’re going to be a long time in recovering from this incident.”
The City of Santa Rosa Twitter account has announced that refugees of the Tubbs and Nuns fires can make their way to shelters around the city.
“ALL fire victims are accepted at shelters and should feel safe to seek relief. You will not be asked to show proof of legal citizenship,” it tweeted.
More than 25,000 Californians have been forced to abandon their homes and authorities are warning anyone who refuses: “You are on your own.”
Mandatory evacuation areas in Santa Rosa
- Annadel Heights area, bordered north by Parktrail Drive and west by Summerfield Road
- All of Oakmont area east of Melita Road. The Nuns fire has reached the Oakmont area and Oakmont is now surrounded on all three sides by fire.
- Cross Creek Road
- Sky Farm Drive
- Saint Andrews Drive
- All residences north Fountaingrove Parkway
- Montecito Heights
- The Hopper Avenue Area West of Coffey Lane (Between Dennis Lane and Hopper Avenue to the north and south and Coffey Lane and Barnes Road to the east and west)
- All residences east of Fulton Road, between River Road and Guerneville Road
- Kaiser Permanente Hospital
- Sutter Hospital
- All residences in Rincon Valley north of Montecito Blvd from Brush Creek Road to eastern city limits at Calistoga Road