(Originally published at 7:57 a.m. PDT October 9, 2017)
(The Tubbs Fire burns in Northern California Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, as seen from this video posted on YouTube by Craig Philpott)
A series of fires fanned by high winds erupted Sunday night and Monday morning in California’s wine country, charring at least 20,000 acres and sending thousands of people fleeing homes, hotels and hospitals in the middle of the night.
The fires, many of which started late Sunday, burned out of control across hillsides in Sonoma and Napa counties, north of San Francisco and west of Sacramento. Multiple other counties were affected as smoke pushed into neighborhoods as day broke.
The largest, the Tubbs Fire, scorched in excess of 20,000 acres within just a few hours, Santa Rosa Fire reported. The fast-moving fire forced the evacuation of area hospitals, closed schools and led officials to recall all city employees to help staff the emergency operations center.
#BREAKING: Fast-spreading fire in hills above Napa prompts evacuations, Cal Fire says. https://t.co/AkIibKNzTY pic.twitter.com/zhJyBij39S
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) October 9, 2017
The Santa Rosa city manager and acting director of emergency services declared the situation a local emergency, according to the incident’s information page.
“This is a life-threatening event,” the Santa Rosa Police Department said in a 2 a.m. alert regarding the evacuations. “Leave immediately.”
There was no immediate word on injuries to civilians or first responders.
#GOES16 satellite update: around 3 am Monday morning. Satellite continues to show multiple wild fires across the North Bay, and a new fire start has been detected just to the east of Cloverdale. Strong and gusty northeast winds will continue through at least mid morning. #cawx pic.twitter.com/jufkkU38wZ
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) October 9, 2017
The National Weather Services has issued a Red flag warning for the region until 5 a.m. Tuesday. North winds were forecast to gust to 30 mph through the day Monday before shifting to the south and diminishing by afternoon.
“Warm temperatures, low humidity and locally strong winds will coincide with critically dry fuels,” forecasters warned.
The nearby Marin County Sheriff’s Office reported no fires Monday morning but said its 911 dispatchers were overwhelmed with people calling to report smoke from other area fires being pushed into their neighborhoods.
Video from residents in the area shows the frantic evacuation efforts that unfolded Monday morning.
Listen: Pure panic, people north of #SanFrancisco move out of the way of furious #wildfires | @CBCAlerts @CBCTheNational #Calfire #napafire pic.twitter.com/g6heLG8IZr
— Jeff Harrington (@JHarringtonTV) October 9, 2017
The exact magnitude of this event remains unclear as day breaks in the area. Photos circulating online, including several hosted here by The San Francisco Chronicle, show several structures, including homes, totally destroyed in the densely populated area.
Fires near "Santa Rosa" and Sonoma/Napa Valleys seen by satellite data "MODIS" from @NASA Greens/Red colors indicate more heat generation. pic.twitter.com/ckmSAF0nEf
— Casey Crosbie (@f12wedge) October 9, 2017
awoke to many sirens around 5:30am,was the placer county sheriffs heading to nevada county to assist with evac’s,then a long line of OES strike teams out of Sacramento passed along with CalFire engines.air attack and the tankers were off grass valley around 7am..wasnt long after but i dont know the exact time they launched.all heading to the cascade fire off highway 20,went from around 800 acres at 5:30 to 5000 (last i heard on local tv) at 8:24am.