4 Fatalities Reported In Napa Lightning Complex Fires

NAPA COUNTY, CA — The Napa County Sheriff-Coroner's Office is working to identify three people who were found dead inside a Napa County residence. Cal Fire reported the three deaths Thursday in connection with the LNU Lightning Complex Fires but referred questions to the sheriff-coroner's office.

According to the sheriff's office, the bodies of three people were discovered inside a home Wednesday southwest of Lake Berryessa in the 6900 block of state Highway 128, and were recovered Thursday.

The area where the fatalities occurred was devastated by wildfire so deputies are working to patrol that area and make sure that residents have been accounted for, whether they were reported missing or not, Napa County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Henry Wofford told Patch.

"Our deputies are working hard and when we see something like that we are going to make sure we show respect and try to find out who they are," Wofford said.

A fourth death reported Thursday by Cal Fire was in Solano County; a PG&E employee was found unresponsive in his work vehicle Wednesday and was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced deceased, according to Cal Fire.

PG&E confirmed Thursday the deceased employee was a Vacaville resident who worked as troubleman. Wednesday, he was clearing electric lines and poles from the Gates Canyon area to make it safe for firefighters battling the LNU Lightning Complex Fires.

The largest of the blazes, the Hennessey Fire, spread from Napa County into Solano County Wednesday, destroying homes and other structures and closing down Interstate Highway 80 for several hours.

The complex of fires were still 0-percent contained Thursday night with a total acreage of 215,000. At least 480 homes and other structures have been destroyed, 125 have been damaged and more than 30,000 are threatened.

A hospital and two entire communities were among those evacuated from the Hennessey Fire, which grew to 192,000 acres after merging with several smaller blazes — the Gamble, Green, Aetna, Markley, Spanish, Morgan and Round fires — burning in Napa and Lake counties.

At 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire announced mandatory evacuations for St. Helena Hospital and the communities of Angwin and Deer Park because of an immediate threat to life.

It is a scene that has been repeated multiple times since the wildfires sparked by lightning first broke out early Monday. Thursday marked the fourth day crews have been battling the Hennessey, Walbridge and other fires in the five counties of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano.

"It is going to take time, it is a very large fire and one of many in California, and honestly our resources are stretched very thin," Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Shana Jones said during a late-morning news conference.

Jones urged residents to be prepared to evacuate, and acknowledged that in the last five years, many in the North Bay have been evacuated and lost homes, or know someone who has.

"We are here for you," Jones said during the briefing. "... When asked to do so, it is important that you do your part."

Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick reassured residents that law enforcement resources from throughout the Bay Area and beyond have come to the North Bay not only to assist with evacuations but to ensure safety of property once an area is evacuated.

"We know this is very stressful," Essick said. "... You can count on your law enforcement to be there for you."

He urged evacuees to try to remain calm and evacuate as quickly as possible without stopping to take photos, which the sheriff said can cause delays for other evacuees.

"We are concerned people are pulling over to take pictures; fight that urge to pull over and please continue to move through the area," Essick said.

Evacuation areas are dangerous, and the sheriff's office has already had to rescue a few people who've gone back in, he said.

"Once it is evacuated we do not want you to reenter," Essick said . "... Please stay out; it creates a secondary problem."

Watch the full 20-minute briefing from Cal Fire and sheriff's officials:

Latest LNU Lightning Complex evacuation orders and warnings:

Napa County is also updating its website with the latest evacuation information for the Hennessey and other LNU Lightning Complex fires, as well as information about current road closures.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Napa County Hennessey Fire Burns 100,000 Acres: Lightning Complex
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• Fire Shuts Down I-80 In Solano County: Severe Traffic Alert
• Lightning Complex Fires Spread To Vacaville, Solano County
• 2 Wildfires Burn In Sonoma County; Mandatory Evacuations Ordered
• Napa County Lightning Complex Fires Latest: More Evacuations