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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 16 october 2017

California firefighters say they finally ‘turned a corner’

By SUDHIN THANAWALA ruins for people listed as
BRIAN MELLEY missing. Hundreds were un-
Associated Press accounted for, though au-
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) thorities said many of them
— With the winds dying are probably safe but
down, fire officials said haven’t let anyone know.
Sunday they have appar- In hard-hit Sonoma Coun-
ently “turned a corner” ty, Sheriff Rob Giordano
against the wildfires that said authorities have locat-
have devastated Califor- ed 1,560 of the more than
nia wine country and other 1,700 once listed as miss-
parts of the state over the ing. Many of those names
past week, and thousands were put on the list after
of people got the all-clear people called from out of
to return home. While the state to say they couldn’t
danger from the deadliest, reach a friend or relative.
most destructive cluster Sonoma County officials
of blazes in California his- said they will not let people
tory was far from over, the return home until it is safe
smoky skies started to clear and utilities are restored.
in some places. Crews have been working
“A week ago this started around the clock to con-
as a nightmare, and the nect water and power,
day we dreamed of has Ed Curzon, right, and his daughter Margaret sift debris to salvage anything they can from the rubble in some cases putting up
arrived,” Napa County Su- of their home, destroyed by a wildfire in the Coffey Park neighborhood Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in new poles next to smolder-
pervisor Belia Ramos said. Santa Rosa, Calif. “My parents and my dogs are alive. That’s all that matters,” said Margaret. ing trees, the sheriff said.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Many evacuees grew in-
People were being allowed creasingly impatient to go
to go back home in areas home — or at least find out
no longer in harm’s way, whether their homes were
and the number of those spared. Others were reluc-
under evacuation orders tant to go back or to look
was down to 75,000 from for another place to live.
nearly 100,000 the day be- Juan Hernandez, who
fore. Fire crews were able escaped with his family
to gain ground because from his apartment Oct. 9
the winds that had fanned before it burned down,
the flames did not kick still had his car packed
up overnight as much as and ready to go in case
feared. “Conditions have the fires flared up again
drastically changed from and threatened his sister’s
just 24 hours ago, and that house, where they have
is definitely a very good been staying in Santa Rosa.
sign,” said Daniel Berlant, “Every day we keep hear-
spokesman for California ing sirens at night, alarms,”
Department of Forestry Hernandez said. “We’re
and Fire Protection, who scared. When you see the
noted that some of the fire close to your house,
fires were 50 percent or you’re scared.” Evacua-
more contained. “It’s prob- tion orders were lifted for
ably a sign we’ve turned a the city of Calistoga, the
corner on these fires.” The Napa Valley city of 5,000
blazes were blamed for at known for its mud baths,
least 40 deaths and de- mineral spas and wine tast-
stroyed some 5,700 homes ings. The city was cleared
and other structures. The out Wednesday as winds
death toll could climb as shifted, but homes and
searchers dig through the businesses were spared.q

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