The fires continue

Napa and Sonoma are still burning. Almost 200,000 acres so far. This fire, the Tubbs fire between Calistoga and Santa Rosa, was one of the first and is still spreading and causing mayhem. According to CalFire a moment ago, it's at 37,440 acres and only 10% contained. Seriously threatening the wonderful old city of Calistoga, which has been under mandatory evacuation all day.

Another big fire further south is threatening the historic city of Sonoma itself, and many homes in the surrounding area have been burned. The Mayacamas mountains, between the Napa Valley and the Sonoma County, began blazing at the very top a couple of days ago, moving down the Napa side to Mt. Veeder Road where there are many wineries and homes.

Not the clearest image, taken from a live map. shows all the fires currently burning in the area, from Cloverdale to the north, to the Tubbs fire that is threatening Healdsburg as well as Calistoga. Down into the eastern side of Sonoma county in the mountains and over into the Napa side. Plus fires still active in Napa. This is not over yet. Barely contained anywhere, still spreading. High winds in the forecast that can continue to spread it quickly, which is what happened initially.

The planes, large and small, didn't get into the sky until today because of poor visibility.  Several of the large tankers, shown above, and numerous smaller planes. Helicopters have been at work all along, but the planes are a big help.

Heading to bed tonight, wondering what morning will bring.

Fire -- or a Buddhist lesson in impermanence

Update 10/10. Soda Canyon Road, which leads to my friends' home in Napa.

After a week or two of being under the weather, I'm happy to say that Cipro has done it's job and today my energy is back in force. Seems I had a bladder infection, which is something I managed to live almost 75 years without experiencing. Could have gone another 75. Could have been worse. A mild case, from tales I've heard.

Turned on the computer at 4am and saw 'napafires' trending on twitter. I was mesmerized and heartbroken over the next 4 hours as I reached out to friends (all safe) and watched the devastation. People, this is home to me, regardless of where I was born or where I live now. Given the money to make it possible, this is where I'd choose to live. Eugene's a pretty good second choice, but it ain't Napa/Sonoma Counties.



Napa got it first, but Santa Rosa is actually taking the brunt of it, with whole neighborhoods wiped out. Hospitals being evacuated at 4am. KMart, hotels, motels, various unknown businesses, wineries, eateries, all burned. Fire departments in Napa and Sonoma counties considered the fires unstoppable, and have focused on getting people evacuated and safe.

At this writing, 3:30pm, at least 1500 structures and over 70,000 acres burned, zero percent contained.



Happy my friends are all safe, though.