Clear Lake - Valley Fire

[Richio1]

Some of you may have seen coverage on the news about the Valley Fire in north Napa County near Clear Lake. It started early yesterday and has now burned over 50,000 acres and is 0% (yes Zero percent) contained. In just 24 hours it has already burned over 1000 homes.

A friend of a friend posted this evacuation video from last night. Watch and imagine driving through your neighborhood and how scary this would have been. Crazy!

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It has been a horrible fire season here in CA and the Clear Lake area has been hit especially hard. This fire has already done more structure damage than the other 3 major area fires combined. Yesterday we could hear sirens heading up valley non stop for several hours but didn't realize how bad things had gotten until seeing the news and Facebook this morning.

We've had a few friend loose homes and many friends of friend impacted. A good buddy lost his home along with a 66 Mustang fastback and 65 Fairlane but at least he and his family are all safe. Another was on vacation and wasn't able to get anything before loosing their home. We all know its just stuff and the stuff will be replaced but it sure sucks. Fortunately, there have been no deaths.

On a positive note, the community response has been amazing. Napa and the surrounding communities have really rallied together to offer support in the way of supplies and support for those displaced along with boarding for animals. In fact, the Red Cross has asked that no more supplies be delivered today because there was so much. Our kids were touched being able to help others in need and it was overwhelming for many having it be so close to home.

Friends posted these on Facebook today. There are so many others that were just amazing but very sad showing all the destruction. But, as with other events like this, they will stay strong, rebuild and life will eventually return to normal. Please pray for those effected.

Unfortunately, many of the large animals like horses & cows had to be left behind. Some, did what they had to do to save them and get them to safety.

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/06b8f27c-8d26-4b61-a3c7-6f05e9135d76_zpskk9chegt.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/06b8f27c-8d26-4b61-a3c7-6f05e9135d76_zpskk9chegt.jpg.html)


http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/3082ea83af2965e8efb55c8dabf0ea89_zps3niqvbk9.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/3082ea83af2965e8efb55c8dabf0ea89_zps3niqvbk9.jpg.h tml)

[Greg from Aus]

Tragic event, stay safe.

[rchaskin]

O M G......I watched that whole video chin on the floor.

That is so scary.

[Sieg]

The reality is just brutal, hopefully losses are kept to just assets.

[Ron in SoCal]

Terrible Jeff! I was thinking of you watching the national news last night. And the vid ... not knowing if you're driving away from, or into the inferno?

Stay safe buddy,

[waynieZ]

Its heart braking to see this all too often, so many life's disrupted but luckily people have gotten out safely. Stay Safe.

[Black93GT]

My coworker had to evacuate her house in the Butte fire area over the weekend.

This valley fire is explosive! The first I heard on Saturday it was 400 acres.. by the time I saw it on the news after work... 10,000 acres.... bedtime 25k. yesterday 50k... today's update is 61k with 5% containment.

I'm 45 mins away from the fire and have ash falling at my house.

I doubt this would be the place people would look if they needed anything, but if someone needs help getting a trailer towed out or someplace to stash their car/truck/trailer I have some driveway space at my house and could set up some spots in gated storage on Travis AFB.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Damn Jeff, be safe out there. It's so sad the loss that's happening. I watched a report where it came up so fast this couple ended up letting their livestock and two horses go free and barely had to dodge the fire.

[Richio1]

Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers everyone. We are fine as we live in Napa but have friends and coworkers who live in the area. It's just crazy how aggressive the fire is. Everyone we know has friends or relatives that are impacted. Many of them have shares heartbreaking and inspirationals stories and photos, some are below.

The two Targets in Napa donated every tent and canopy they had along with pallets of water, sheet sets and pillow.

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/th_c1ca7b17ad15e063702e6a77ffaf2483_zpst1rjcbfy.jp g (http://s855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/?action=view&current=c1ca7b17ad15e063702e6a77ffaf2483_zpst1rjcb fy.jpg)

I also just saw a video on FB of a line of dozens of trucks with horse trailers waiting to haul livestock out.

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/8d2ae03525a5ca85fee23022fb11a34b_zpsuidqrtnq.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/8d2ae03525a5ca85fee23022fb11a34b_zpsuidqrtnq.jpg.h tml)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/12004906_1054316121252796_2506819345344221473_n_zp shvvc0ieg.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/12004906_1054316121252796_2506819345344221473_n_zp shvvc0ieg.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/12004079_894375057309526_2561433799133076421_n_zps ggpuhiii.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/12004079_894375057309526_2561433799133076421_n_zps ggpuhiii.jpg.html)

Before and After

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/f16ecb20571cb91b17180251ae21a6a2_zpscm3hie9r.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/f16ecb20571cb91b17180251ae21a6a2_zpscm3hie9r.jpg.h tml)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/3b7aa3f3d0e7b1d8b5b686ebdc1c8a6f_zpscsbcwzk1.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/3b7aa3f3d0e7b1d8b5b686ebdc1c8a6f_zpscsbcwzk1.jpg.h tml)

[Richio1]

Here are some from a local photographer. They are pretty amazing as well and are good enough to make it into Seig's thread.

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/12006684_894372297309802_2764668702346925425_o_zps bcaeiri6.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/12006684_894372297309802_2764668702346925425_o_zps bcaeiri6.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/11952939_894373023976396_3657867141522698614_o_zps a556opep.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/11952939_894373023976396_3657867141522698614_o_zps a556opep.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/11863436_10153134577896538_1414806984501368161_n_z ps8bd1tfol.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/11863436_10153134577896538_1414806984501368161_n_z ps8bd1tfol.jpg.html)

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/12027598_894372987309733_7587607363579892731_n_zps bneoqk4i.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/12027598_894372987309733_7587607363579892731_n_zps bneoqk4i.jpg.html)


http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/11988681_894373643976334_5325831617535705532_n_zps 5bfbhuut.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/11988681_894373643976334_5325831617535705532_n_zps 5bfbhuut.jpg.html)

People were painting their driveways so the air crews could come in and get water

http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab116/Richio1/ebab7484c32fbbae2c062db520ad7490_zpsqthx81dw.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/Richio1/media/ebab7484c32fbbae2c062db520ad7490_zpsqthx81dw.jpg.h tml)

[Sieg]

Gut wrenching :shakehead:

[Black93GT]

It's reported at 62k acres this evening and 10% contained. Our weather flipped 180 from the weekend... It dropped 20-30 degrees and there was an increase of humidity with some sprinkles. Nothing fantastic, but enough to slow the fires growth.
The winds have shifted and to remain stronger over the next few days. The only positive is the valley fire is moving towards two recently burned areas.

[John510]

Where are all the people who had to leave their homes? I wouldn't mind going to costco and bring up some food/water for people.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Where are all the people who had to leave their homes? I wouldn't mind going to costco and bring up some food/water for people.

Best thing to do is donate to the Red Cross, they can use the donations for resources that they truly need.

Info here @ the Sacbee
http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article35368947.html

[Richio1]

Thanks John & Vince. Any and all help will be appreciated by all effected.

Many prayers have been answered. It has been raining lightly most of the day which will help with battling the fire. But with that, most of the displaced victims are now living in tents in the Napa Valley Fairgrounds in Calistoga and are now getting rained on.

Calfire shows the fire is now 35% contained and has burned over 70k acres. Many homes and businesses are still at risk. The wineries and vineyards in the area have been severely impacted. We are in the peak of harvest but since the fire is still raging and the roads are closed the employees cannot get to work. If they cannot harvest the grapes many crops could be severely impacted or lost in an already Low volume harvest due to the drought.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Thanks John & Vince. Any and all help will be appreciated by all effected.

Many prayers have been answered. It has been raining lightly most of the day which will help with battling the fire. But with that, most of the displaced victims are now living in tents in the Napa Valley Fairgrounds in Calistoga and are now getting rained on.

Calfire shows the fire is now 35% contained and has burned over 70k acres. Many homes and businesses are still at risk. The wineries and vineyards in the area have been severely impacted. We are in the peak of harvest but since the fire is still raging and the roads are closed the employees cannot get to work. If they cannot harvest the grapes many crops could be severely impacted or lost in an already Low volume harvest due to the drought. I can't believe they are having issues with looting. :(

[Richio1]

I know.

Amazing isn't it.