8 p.m. update
SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. -- Cal Fire officials issued more evacuation orders for areas that are threatened by the Glass Fire.
Here are the areas that are under mandatory evacuation orders:
- Areas between Old Lawley Toll and Pope Valley roads fromInk Grade to Aetna Spring roads
- All recreational areas
Cal Fire officials also issued evacuation warnings for the following areas:
- All areas north of Aetna Springs road, extending west to the RLS Trail Head on Highway 29 to Lake County line between Highway 29 and west of Butts Canyon road
- All addresses on Highway 29 from Tubbs Lane to the Lake County line and Old Lawley Toll road remain on a warning
- West of Highway 29 from the Calistoga City limits to the Lake County line North of Highway 128 from Calistoga City limits to the Sonoma County line
Highway 29 from Tubbs Lane to the Lake County line is still open for traffic.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Brunton said a portion of the Glass Fire is burning in an area that has had "no fire history" in more than 80 years.
"(The area) had the amount of fuels, the fuels were super dry due to the droughts and stressed vegetation, dry conditions, and the wind and all that combined created the situation we're in now," Brunton said.
5 p.m. update:
Sonoma County officials are holding another joint press conference to share the latest updates on the Glass Fire.
12 p.m. update:
More than 22,000 structures are being threatened as the Glass Fire has grown to more than 48,000 acres and is only 2% contained.
While 80 single-family residences are confirmed to have been destroyed, Cal Fire expects that number to likely go up. During a press conference on Wednesday, fire officials also confirmed two commercial structures have also been destroyed.
While some people were able to return to their homes in Santa Rosa, Police Chief Rainer Navarro is reminding residents many areas are still under mandatory evacuation orders and warnings and officers are patrolling the area.
"Remember that evacuation orders continue to remain in place, that is is unlawful to be in those areas," Navarro said. "It is unsafe."
Navarro said no looting or burglaries have been reported. Napa County Sheriff Jon Crawford echoed Navarro's sentiments, asking people to stay our of the evacuated areas until it is safe.
"Evacuated zones are dangerous," Crawford said. "There is still active fire, trees falling without warning and powerlines on the ground. We ask for your continued patience."
However, Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick said there have been five incidents of people entering evacuation zones who did not live in the area. Essick believes the suspects were looking for crimes of opportunity, but were taken into custody before anything unlawful could happen.
Essick is reassuring the evacuated public that approximately 86 deputies are patrolling the areas 24 hours a day.
"They are there to ensure your property is safe," Essick said.
Two firefighters were forced to take refuge under fire shelters Sunday night, according to Cal Fire. The aluminized cloth tents shielded the firefighters from the heat and unbreathable air after intense fire conditions were fueled by gusty off-shore winds. They were uninjured in the incident, but several vehicles were damaged.
On Thursday, more wind is expected, with gusts higher than 25 mph, specifically near the area of the Glass Fire. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for those areas from 1 p.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday.
Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Gossner is urging everyone to prepare and pay attention to this wind event.
"You dont know how serious it is until it happens to us," saod Gossner. "We need all of our citizens to pay attention and do the right thing.
11 a.m. update:
Cal Fire is provided updates to emergency crews' responses to the Glass Fire over Facebook Live Wednesday.
You can watch live by clicking on the video below. If that does not work, click here.
10 a.m. update
High winds that spread new fires this week in the Napa and Sonoma wine country and in far northern California have been reduced to breezes but vegetation is still ripe for burning in high temperatures amid very low humidity. The National Weather Service says Wednesday that the weather conditions will last for several days.
Original story
Thousands of California's weary wine country residents are confronting yet another devastating wildfire.
The Glass Fire has scorched over 48,000 acres, destroyed about 95 structures, and forced nearly 70,000 people to evacuate their homes, including the entire town of Calistoga and parts of Santa Rosa. The fire is only two percent contained.
It's the fourth major fire in three years in the Napa-Sonoma area. The region is nearing the third anniversary of the 2017 Tubbs Fire that killed 22 people. For many, seeing the blaze come over the iconic ridges was a painful reminder of the losses in 2017.
The Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick acknowledged “fire fatigue" during a press conference on Tuesday. Essick also noted there have not been any deaths, and so far, nobody has been reported missing.
So far in this year’s historic fire season, more than 8,100 California wildfires have killed 29 people and destroyed 7,000 buildings.
RELATED:
Evacuation Orders:
Evacuation Centers:
- Cross Walk Church: 2590 First Street, Napa
- A Place to Play (Temporary Evacuation Point) 2375 West 3rd Street, Santa Rosa
- Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds (accepting sheltering in cars and RVs. Not ready for congregant sheltering at this point.) 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Peteluma
- Petaluma Veteran’s Building (Temporary Evacuation Point and shelter) 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma
- Sonoma Raceway (Temporary Evacuation Point, car sheltering and camping) 29355 Arnold Dr.
Maps
An evacuation map and details on evacuations and evacuation shelter for the Glass Fire are available on the Napa County website HERE or on the map below.
A Sonoma County evacuation map is available below. Temporary evacuation points have been set up at the Santa Rosa Vets Hall and Petaluma Vets Hall. The Santa Rosa Fairgrounds.
WILDFIRE PREPS
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. A defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris is completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and know your community’s evacuation plans to best prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
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