News

Livestock and agricultural property owners who have been displaced or evacuated by the LNU Lightning Complex Fires are getting some help from local authorities to care for their animals and preserve their properties. 

Dry Creek, Russian River valleys filled with smoke and unpicked ripening grapes

Monday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. —

With many zones (see the county’s evacuation order and warning map here: https://socoemergency.org/emergency/current-socoalerts/) in north county under an evacuation warning and some under an evacuation order, now is a good time to assess what you have packed in your go bag, as well as what you can do to harden your home.

Updated Sunday, Aug. 23, 2:20 p.m. —

Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter Henry-1 made a daring rescue Friday evening near the Woodward Fire that’s burning southwest of Olema in Marin County. In a long-line rescue, the Henry-1 crew were able to rescue two Marin County firefighters who became trapped by the fire on the ridgeline and were unable to escape the area due to the advancing flames.

 The Walbridge Fire has claimed a Sonoma County historical landmark, the 136-year-old Daniels School, a one-room schoolhouse that stood at 8162 Mill Creek Road and had recently been fully restored.

Sonoma County added 79 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours and currently there’s an overall total of 70 deaths, five of which occurred in the last 24 hours among the county’s older and more vulnerable population in skilled nursing and residential elder care facilities according to an update from Sonoma County Health Officer, Dr. Sundari Mase.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency Friday afternoon, Aug. 21, in response to the Walbridge Fire burning down to Armstrong Woods that continues to threaten the Rio Nido, Guerneville and lower Russian River communities.

Update: The National Weather Service has canceled the red flag warning for the remainder of Monday.