Monday, September 28th

New wildfires scorch wine country near San Francisco

By JANIE HAR Associated Press

Flames from the Glass Fire consume the Glass Mountain Inn, late Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Helena, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Northern California's wine country was on fire again Monday as strong winds fanned flames in the already badly scorched region, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes in the dark of night.

Residents of the Oakmont Gardens assisted living home in Santa Rosa boarded brightly lit city buses overnight, some wearing bathrobes and using walkers. They wore masks to protect against the coronavirus as orange flames marked the dark sky.

Flames also engulfed the Chateau Boswell Winery north of St. Helena. The Adventist Health St. Helena hospital suspended care and transferred all patients elsewhere, according to a statement on its website.

"We just don't have words," state Sen. Mike McGuire, a Democrat who represents Healdsburg, told KTVU-2 in Oakland. "It's an incredibly trying and emotional time right now."

Residents of the Oakmont Gardens senior home evacuate as the Shady Fire approaches in Santa Rosa Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The fires that began Sunday in the famed Napa-Sonoma wine country north of San Francisco came on the third anniversary of deadly wildfires that erupted in 2017, including one that killed 22 people.

The latest inferno began with the Glass Fire at 3:50 a.m. Sunday and two subsequent fires merged with it, burning 17 square miles (44 square kilometers) as of early Monday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

Officials did not have an estimate of people under evacuation but Paul Lowenthal, Cal Fire spokesman, said more than 13,000 homes were threatened in Santa Rosa alone. He estimates tens of thousands of people are under evacuation warnings or orders.

"In some parts of Santa Rosa, they're mopping up hot spots," he said. "In other parts, they're still actively fighting fire."

Embers fly from a tree as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin evacuated her home in the Oakmont community of Santa Rosa about 1 a.m. She is rebuilding a home damaged in the 2017 fires. Gorin told the San Francisco Chronicle that she is numb, and the situation feels surreal.

"It's like God has no sympathy, no empathy for Sonoma County," she told the news publication.

Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger wildfires in America to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas, especially because climate change has made California much drier. A drier California means plants are more flammable.

Evacuations were also ordered in Shasta County as the Zogg Fire spread over 23 square miles (59 square kilometers). Residences are widely scattered in the forested area, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of the city of Redding in a region torched just two years ago by the massive and deadly Carr Fire - infamously remembered for producing a huge tornado-like fire whirl.

The Glass Fire burns a hillside above Silverado Trail in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The causes of the new fires were under investigation.

The fires erupted as a giant ridge of high pressure settled over the West, producing powerful gusts blowing from the interior toward the coast while slashing humidity levels and raising temperatures, making vegetation ready to burn.

During the weekend, Pacific Gas & Electric turned off electricity to targeted areas where the winds raised the potential for arcing or other power equipment damage that could spark new fires. The utility's equipment has caused previous disasters, including the 2018 Camp Fire that devastated the Sierra Nevada foothills town of Paradise and killed 85 people.

So far this year, more than 8,100 California wildfires have scorched 5,780 square miles (14,970 square kilometers), destroyed more than 7,000 buildings and killed 26 people.

Most of the losses occurred after a frenzy of dry lightning strikes in mid-August ignited a massive outbreak of fires.

Fire worries were also developing Monday across Southern California although it was unclear how strong predicted Santa Ana winds would be. Heat and extreme dryness were expected to be problematic nonetheless.

Conditions were also hot, dry and windy in parts of Arizona, where the Sears Fire in Tonto National Forest north of Phoenix has grown to more than 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) since it erupted Friday afternoon. Authorities reported zero containment.

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AP writer John Antczak in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Flames from the Glass Fire consume the Glass Mountain Inn, late Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Helena, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Embers fly from a tree as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Embers fly from a tree as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Flames from the Glass Fire consume Chateau Boswell Winery in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Flames from the Glass Fire consume the Glass Mountain Inn, late Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Helena, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

An air tanker drops retardant on the Glass Fire burning in Calistoga, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

An air tanker drops retardant on the Glass Fire burning above Davis Estates winery in Calistoga, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Flames from the Glass Fire consume a vineyard building in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A firefighter battles the Glass Fire burning in Calistoga, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Firefighters battle the Glass Fire burning in Calistoga, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Flames from the Glass Fire consume a vineyard building in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Lissa Doumani speaks with firefighter Javier Martinez as the Glass Fire burns near her St. Helena, Calif., home on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. At right is her husband Hire Sone. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Hiro Sone and his wife Lissa Doumani watch as the Glass Fire burns near their St. Helena, Calif., home on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Firefighters knock down flames on a dog house while battling the Glass Fire burning in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Flames from the Glass Fire lick up a tree in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Firefighters work to save the Louis Stralla Water Treatment Plant as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Jessica Sander rounds up goats as the Glass Fire approaches in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. The goats had been clearing vegetation prior to the fire's start. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The Global Supertanker drops retardant while battling the Glass Fire in Napa County, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

An air tanker drops retardant while battling the Glass Fire in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The Global Supertanker drops retardant while battling the Glass Fire in Napa County, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Cal Fire Capt. Jesse Campbell works to save the Louis Stralla Water Treatment Plant as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Cal Fire Capt. Jesse Campbell works to save the Louis Stralla Water Treatment Plant as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Residents of the Oakmont Gardens senior home evacuate on a bus as the Shady Fire approaches in Santa Rosa Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Residents of the Oakmont Gardens senior home evacuate by bus as the Shady Fire approaches Santa Rosa Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A firefighter pulls a hose while protecting a home along Crystal Springs Road while battling the Glass Fire in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group via AP)

Private firefighter Bradcus Schrandt gives an injured kitten water at the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Private firefighter Bradcus Schrandt, right, holds an injured kitten while Joe Catterson assists, at the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A house burns on Platina Road at the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Tom Smith walks on Platina Road after refusing to evacuate from the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Pacific Gas and Electric employee Sean Ohaire hoses down a telephone pole at the Zogg Fire near Igo, Calif., early Monday, Sep. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A California Highway Patrol officer watches flames that are visible from the Zogg Fire on Clear Creek Road near Igo, Calif., on Monday, Sep. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A tree smolders next to Platina Road at the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A Cal Fire firefighter douses hot spots the Zogg Fire near Igo, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Tom Smith stares at a burning home on Platina Road after refusing to evacuate from the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Tom Smith stares at a burning home on Platina Road after refusing to evacuate from the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A Pacific Gas and Electric employee Sean Ohaire hoses down a telephone pole at the Zogg Fire near Igo, Calif., early Monday, Sep. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Flame are visible from the Zogg Fire on Clear Creek Road near Igo, Calif., on Monday, Sep. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A kitten is burned at the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A fire engine leaves a burning property as the Glass Fire tears through St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)