Fires Ravage Bennett Valley
From the late-night hours of Sunday, October 8, into the pre-dawn hours of October 9, the residents of Bennett Valley and our neighbors from miles around woke to massive and fast-moving wildfires. Residents made hurried decisions selecting what few possessions they could pack into their vehicles as gusty hurricane-like winds accelerated the fires rapidly while forcing life-saving evacuations. Even before dawn, the fires consumed almost 100 homes and structures in Bennett Valley and thousands more homes and businesses in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, Napa County, and surrounding areas.
The Sonoma County Sheriff, Cal Fire and local fire officials ordered mandatory evacuations for most of Bennett Valley and large areas of the region for many days. Officials have slowly allowed residents back in to the affected areas to survey the damage and to salvage what remained of destroyed properties. Fire officials have called these fires one of the worst urban/wildland fires in the State’s history.
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Fire Chief Dan George to Speak at Bennett Valley Guild Hall November 4, 3:00 to 5:00 PM
Fire Chief Dan George of the Bennett Valley Fire Protection District will speak to the community to discuss issues related to the fires and answer questions.
The community meeting will be held at the Bennett Valley Guild Hall on
Saturday, November 4, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Please plan to attend. Parking is limited so please carpool.
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Sonoma County Recovers
As we return to our affected properties, use caution. Toxic materials may be present on your property. Wear sturdy footwear and protective clothing. Inspect propane tanks for any damage prior to turning on the unit (or call your propane provider for assistance).
According to County fire officials:
It is important to understand the risk to your safety and health even after the fire is out. The soot and dirty water left behind may contain things that could make you sick. Be very careful if you touch any fire-damaged items. Ask the advice of the fire department, local building officials, your insurance agent, and restoration specialists before starting to clean or make repairs. Do not eat, drink, or breathe in anything that has been near the flames, smoke soot, or water used to put the fire out.
Fire ash may be irritating to the skin, nose and throat may cause coughing and/or nose bleeds. Fine particles can be inhaled deeply into lungs and may aggravate asthma and may make it difficult to breathe.
For official recovery information for Sonoma County fires, visit the County website at https://www.sonomacountyrecovers.org/.
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Note from the Editor
This is an abbreviated version of the November VOICE due to the fires. The fires affected several members of the VOICE staff. We plan to return to our regular publication of the VOICE in early 2018.
Election note: The annual election meeting for the Bennett Valley Community Association Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 PM at the Bennett Valley Guild Hall. The ballots must be returned no later than November 15, 2017.
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