Dear Friends,

I know Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa residents are anxious to get back to their homes. And I want to help you move back as soon as possible, as well.

Please understand the Glass Fire is still an active fire — there are hotspots and potential for flare ups throughout the fire perimeter. And as we saw in the media, there are still aggressive flames moving through Sugerloaf State Park. There is a lot of infrastructure damage, even in areas with minimal structures lost like Oakmont. It is not yet safe to return. 

Our first responders are amazing. They are working hard, often working double or triple shifts without rest, to extinguish hot spots and keep the fires away from residences, but winds, heat, and fuels can guide the fire in unpredictable ways.

We are expecting extreme heat and red flag event winds Friday through Sunday. These winds could carry embers and flames far and with astonishing speeds. PLEASE PREPARE NOW. Pack a go bag and know how you would evacuate quickly if asked to do so. 

We have also experienced confounding news from Nixle alerts incorrectly sent from Napa County which caused alarm and concern in Sonoma Valley one more thing we need to focus on. 

That being said, keep your cell phone charged and turned on to receive Nixle alerts from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and SoCoAlerts through Sonoma County's Department of Emergency Management. (If you haven't done so already, you can sign up for SoCo Alerts at public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF7053564662 and Nixle alerts at local.nixle.com/register/.)

I would also recommend filling your gas tank and packing your car. This includes your go bags, medications, important papers and appropriate clothing. Having everything prepared will allow you to leave that much quicker, should the need arise.

Please respect evacuation orders and warnings, and stay alert. You can make use of the following tools to stay updated:

  • The County hosts a virtual daily briefing (Monday - Friday unless new starts/increased activity) at 5:00 PM at www.facebook.com/CountyofSonoma/. These live streams are then archived at www.youtube.com/c/CountyofSonoma/videos and can be accessed any time.
  • Calfire also hosts daily briefings that you can watch at www.facebook.com/CALFIRELNU/, generally at 11 AM. Please check that page for more details. 
  • Information on shelters, evacuation orders, resources, and more is available at socoemergency.org/emergency/wildfire/. This page is updated frequently as information becomes available, including the Local Assistance Center and the Damage Assessment Map.
  • If you are out of power, have connectivity issues, or are otherwise not able to access the internet, don’t forget that local radio is a wonderful resource that is accessible to everyone. KSRO has wonderful, round-the-clock coverage of the fire. Tune in at 103.5 FM, 94.5 FM, or 1350 AM.
  • This is an incredibly difficult time. If you are dealing with stress and trauma and need to talk to someone, please make use of the County's mental health warm line to speak to a trained counselor. This service is available from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM, 7 days a week at 707-565-2652.
 
My heart breaks for everyone who already knows, or will soon learn, that they are a new member of the growing club of wildfire survivors in our county. I am here with you all, still rebuilding my home lost in 2017. In the coming days, weeks, and months, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office for assistance. 

We will be convening meetings to help those who lost homes through the long road ahead. Please reach out to me at Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org and my team will add you to our list.
 
Damage assessments are not yet available, but we know that homes were lost in the eastern portions of Skyhawk, along Los Alamos Road and along Highway 12 between Los Alamos and Oakmont. Houses were also lost on Stow Circle, east of Calistoga Road near Maria Carrillo High School. The high school also suffered damage to two classrooms.

This fire traveled with a lot of speed and heat as it raced over the mountain. We will likely see a high level of structure loss once the damage assessment teams can get eyes on the extent of the damage, especially in upper Los Alamos, St. Helena Road, and the beautiful mountainous forested regions.
 
As in past fires, we will be opening a Local Assistance Center and FEMA Assistance Center where folks can go to start the long journey towards recovery. I will share this information once we have it. 
 
On Tuesday, September 29, I was able to take a tour of some of the fire impacted areas in my District with Chief Mark Heine of Sonoma County Fire District. I am in awe of our first responders — Chief Heine described the terrifying speed with which the fire made it from Saint Helena Road to Highway 12, and the conditions our firefighters were facing with huge flames and raging winds in some areas. 
 
Lost homes on Mountain Hawk
Standing home off Cougar Lane
Downed power pole at Los Alamos
The pictures here are from the edge of Annadel, Oakmont, up Pythian, up Los Alamos Road, into the eastern edge of Skyhawk including Scotland Drive, Brigadoon Way and Mountain Hawk Drive, further up Los Alamos past Cougar Lane, and up Calistoga Road just to Maria Carrillo High School and Stow Circle. On our first tour of the burn area, we were unable to visit Saint Helena Road, the heart of Skyhawk, Adobe Canyon, and other more remote areas due to the impassibility of the roads and the active fire still burning all over the mountains. I am touring those areas today. 

Annadel, Hood Mountain, and Sugarloaf are still smoldering, and are a focus for fire fighters. Very few structures were lost in Oakmont, and the ones that were lost seem to be a direct result of the juniper bushes in the landscaping. Please, remove these hazardous plants — one tiny ember and they go up like a torch. It makes a difference.

Trione-Annadel Park
Lost home in Oakmont
Lost home on Stow Circle
Oakmont and other areas did suffer extensive infrastructure damage including two downed powerlines and several melted water pipes. For our own safety, those of us who reside in Oakmont will not be allowed to return until this damage has been repaired. Think days, not tomorrow.
 
Most importantly, I urge you to be patient and kind with yourselves and each other. Even my friends who did not have to evacuate are feeling trauma from this incident, so however you were impacted — whether trying to keep up on the news, evacuating in the middle of the night, or knowing your home is gone — feel what you’re feeling and take time to rest.

If you lost a home, know that the journey ahead is long and trying, whether you decide to rebuild or sell your lot. I know it well, I am still walking that path. And I am here for you.
All the best,




Susan Gorin, 1st District Supervisor