North Bay Wildfire Evacuees Escape To Marin

MARIN COUNTY, CA – Thousands of people have evacuated their homes, with many from the North Bay escaping to Marin County, as multiple wildfires continue to tear through Northern California. As of Wednesday, the devastating fires have left at least 21 people dead and at least 180 people injured since they sparked late Sunday night.

Marin County has served as a comforting shelter to many fleeing the firestorm, offering support to nearby counties affected by the series of wildfires.

On Monday, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Health and Human Services opened two temporary shelters in San Rafael, housing a combined total of 524 people overnight. In addition to meals and basic shelter, the county provided evacuees with access to animal care, toys and games for children, showers, and medical and behavioral health services.

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Community-operated shelters in the West Marin area housed an additional 171 evacuees, according to the county. Marin County Parks reported about 50 people stayed overnight at McNears Beach Park near San Rafael.

On Tuesday, 348 evacuees stayed at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall in San Rafael.

The Counting Crows, a rock band from Berkeley, helped raise spirits by performing at the temporary shelter, which was open again Wednesday. As of 11 a.m. Thursday, Marin Exhibit Hall remained the only shelter operated by the county.

Elsewhere in the North Bay, evacuees fled to a number of shelters across Sonoma County.

Sonoma County has four evacuation centers with enhanced services, including mental health services. These include Elsie Allen High School, Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, Sonoma County Fairgrounds and Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds.

According to the county, these centers are being prioritized for resources and all have cots, blankets, sheets, towels and other resources for evacuees. County officials encourage evacuees in need of shelter to go to these evacuation centers first.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the following centers are open and accepting evacuees, according to Sonoma County. Sonoma Raceway at 29355 Arnold Drive is not a general evacuation shelter, but it is available for RV campers.

Cloverdale

• Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds, 1 Citrus Fair Drive

Healdsburg

• Healdsburg Community Center, 1157 Healdsburg Ave.

Petaluma

• 1st Presebyterian Chrurch, 939 B St. (day use only, food and water available after 9 a.m.)
• Casa Grande High School, 333 Casa Grande Road
• Cavanaugh Youth Center, 426 8th St.
• Church of Christ, 370 Sonoma Mountain Parkway
• New Life Church 1310 Clegg St.
• Petaluma Veterans Memorial Hall, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South
• Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, 175 Fairgrounds Drive (large pets accepted)

Santa Rosa

• Cook Middle School, 2480 Sebastopol Road
• Elsie Allen High School, 599 Bellevue Ave.
• Finley Community Center, 2060 West College Ave.
• Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave.
• Sonoma County Fairgrounds Pavillion, 1350 Bennett Valley Road (large pets accepted)
• St Eugene's Cathedral School/Gym, 300 Farmers Lane

Sebastopol

• Analy High School, 6950 Analy Ave.
• Hessel Church, 5060 Hessel Ave.
• St Stephen's Episcopoal Church, 500 Robinson Road

Sonoma

• Adele Harrison Middle School, 1150 Broadway
• Sonoma Raceway, 29355 Arnold Drive
• Sonoma Valley High School, 20000 Broadway
• Sonoma Veterans Building, 126 1st St. West

Windsor

• Windsor High School, 8695 Windsor Road

Also see:

• Northern California Wildfire Latest: Death Toll Climbs, Acres Burn
• Red Flag Warning, Wind Advisory Issued For North Bay
• Wildfires Cause 'Unprecedented Levels' Of Air Pollution In Bay Area
• SMART Continues Free Train Service Through Sunday
• North Bay Wildfires Close Schools In Marin County

Photos 1-3: Marin Center in San Rafael, home of our temporary wildfire evacuee shelter. Credit: County of Marin