CA Wildfires Continue
Sonoma County farmers and ranchers may not know the full extent of wildfire damage to their lands, crops and livestock facilities for days or weeks. The fires are still blazing.
The Kincade Fire, which started Oct. 23rd has burned nearly 76 thousand acres. According to Cal Fire, it was 15 percent contained as of Tuesday.
It has so far, destroyed or damaged dozens of structures and led to evacuation orders in parts of Sonoma and Napa counties.
Tawny Tesconi, executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau told Ag Alert that they were “ just really kind of in triage." Several wineries in the Alexander Valley have been damaged or destroyed.
People are helping neighbors in anyway they can with assistance in evacuating to caring for animals. The Sonoma County Farm Bureau is helping to match people who have had to evacuate large animals with people who have space for them.
The National Weather Service forecast gusts of 45 to 65 mph in the region . Fire and Sheriff representatives said they were concerned that the fires could spread rapidly if winds increase. If so, Santa Rosa and the northern Napa Valley could be at risk.
The California Farm Bureau Federation has a relief fund, the Farm and Rural Disaster Fund, established through its California Bountiful Foundation. Information about the fund is found at www.cfbf.com.
During a press briefing California Highway Patrol Captain Aristotle Wolf pleaded with folks to be safe and practice safety.
Wolf: “We do maintain robust normal operations. So your safety is ensured on the roadway. I will add please, don’t add to the problem. Just on the way here, on my way to an operation briefing before this conference, I made a stop on a gentleman who had thrown a cigarette butt on the freeway travelling through Petaluma. “
