The California wildfires continue to rage with reports that 17 people have died, over 2,000 structures have been destroyed and the wine region has been battered, according to The Washington Post. With gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, the two largest fires, named Tubbs and Atlas Peak, are advancing rapidly into pedestrian areas. Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties have been the hardest hit so far.
Both the 124-room luxury hotel Fountaingrove Inn and the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country have fallen victim to the flames, as have the Chateau St. Jean, William Hill Estate, White Rock Vineyards, Paradise Ridge, Nicholson Ranch, Frey Vineyards and Signorello Estates wineries, according to SFGate.com and Mercurynews.com.
Mercurynews.com is also reporting that the Poetry Inn is surrounded by flames and that the three-Michelin star French Laundry restaurant is closed due to fire-related power outages.
Last night, Brad Calkins, executive director of Visit Santa Rosa released this statement:
“At this time, our team at Visit Santa Rosa does not have an assessment of the damage caused by the fires in Santa Rosa and greater Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties. We know that our community has sustained losses and that many of our partners, friends and neighbors have been impacted. Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of Santa Rosa’s residents and visitors and we encourage people to remain out of the evacuated areas until emergency responders confirm it is safe to return. With the state’s resources mobilized by Governor [Jerry] Brown’s declaration of a state of emergency, we trust fire containment will be swift and that recovery will begin quickly. Our community is resilient and we pledge Visit Santa Rosa’s utmost support to rapidly restoring the city’s thriving tourism sector and vibrant spirit.”
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