Preliminary report: Homes burned in Santa Rosa’s Oakmont; fire deaths now 21
Here is the latest news on the fire in and around Sonoma County and the North Coast:
12:33 p.m.
The teens at the Sonoma County juvenile detention center were evacuated Monday to Solano County due to an encroaching fire, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday.
Forty teens and nine employees were moved Monday at 5:30 a.m.
Teens arrested subsequently are being taken to Marin County’s juvenile incarceration facility.
The Sonoma County center is near Oakmont, off Highway 12.
12:30 p.m.
Sonoma State University has canceled all classes and university business until Monday, Oct. 16.
12:10 p.m.
The number deaths caused by fires burning in Northern California since Sunday has increased to 21, said Cal Fire spokesman Jonathan Cox.
11:55 a.m.
While the Fountaingrove fire did not consume and destroy Santa Rosa Community Health’s Vista Family Health Center on Round Barn Circle, it did force its closure from smoke and water damage.
Naomi Fuchs, SRHC’s CEO, said all Vista staff were transferred to the health center’s other clinic sites which are open to anyone in the local community for nonemergency care.
These sites include the Lombardi Campus, 751 Lombardi Court; Brookwood Health Center, 983 N. Dutton Ave.; and the Pediatric Campus, 711 Stony Point Road. More information about facilities is available at srhealth.org.
Fuchs said those seeking medical care should call 707 303-3600 first, as many issues can be dealt with over the phone.
Help is available for those who are having breathing problems or need attention for chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension. Help with medications is available at SRCH’s Lombardi pharmacy.
Obstetrics care is also available at all sites, she said, and the dental clinic on 1110 N. Duton Ave. is open.
SRCH serves some 50,000 residents in the Santa Rosa area. At least 20 SRCH staff lost homes, she said.
11:50 a.m.
Wind remains the main concern, as already taxed firefighters enter a third day without containment on multiple fires threatening communities throughout Sonoma and Napa counties.
Santa Rosa Battalion Chief Mark Basque said they’re trying to get crews working without rest since Sunday time to shower and sleep.
Wednesday, areas of significant concern included the northwest section of the Fire, from Shiloh ridge to Chalk Hill Road and Knights Valley.
“There are a ton of houses out there,” Basque said.
Several firefighters had lost homes and Basque said the Pocket fire was threatening his home outside Healdsburg.
“This is an unprecedented event,” Basque said.
11:35 a.m.
Flames overnight destroyed the hillside home of Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin on Crestridge Place, one of at least two homes burned in Oakmont. Wednesday morning, the debris from her one-story, three bedroom house still smoldered, the smoke obscuring the hills of Trione-Annadel State Park.
Gorin said State Sen. Mike McGuire, who was touring in the area, helped retrieve items from her home when it first began burning Tuesday night.
“I have a lot of constituents who are in a lot of pain,” said Gorin. “Like so many other people, I will be navigating the recovery process, insurance, claims.”
11:32 a.m.
Law enforcement has closed Highway 12 to traffic from Melita Road all the way to Agua Caliente Road near Sonoma.
11:30 a.m.
Fire officials Wednesday were monitoring a flaming finger of the Tubbs fire burning in the hills north of Santa Rosa, watching for signs that winds later could push flames toward sections of northeast Windsor and southern Healdsburg.
Advisory evacuations are possible for specific areas of the towns, but only if the winds pose a risk, said Windsor Fire Chief Jack Piccinini.
Specifically, officials are watching fire burning above the Mark West Lodge and wind shifts.
“The fear is that if that little finger does catch the wind and does kind of start to burn in a northeasterly direction or easterly direction” it could pose a threat, he said. “We want people to be ready to go.”
The advisory would be for residents near Foothills Regional Park, including Arata Lane, and east of Healdsburg in the area of Bailache Avenue and Fitch Mountain, northeast Windsor.
Piccinini was concerned that evacuation notices be specific, and asked residents to check official notices about the streets listed - if and when a warning is issued.
Late Tuesday afternoon the Sheriff’s Office issued several evacuation notices for numerous areas including near the Bennett Valley Golf Course. The Bennett Valley evacuation notice was for areas east of Summerfield Road and south of Parktrail Drive, said Paul Lowenthal, spokesman for the Santa Rosa-area fire, who was in the area helping make the decision.
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