Sonoma County Fires: Sutter Hospital, Post Offices Reopen

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Cal Fire officials Tuesday morning released new containment numbers for several wildfires still burning in the North Bay, with the three largest fires being at least two-thirds contained. The largest fire in the region is now the Nuns Fire, which started near state Highway 12 north of Glen Ellen on Oct. 8 and has burned 52,894 acres. It was 68 percent contained as of this morning, according to Cal Fire. In Sonoma County, the Nuns Fire was progressing to the north and west over the Oakmont side, with a moderate rate of spread; in Napa County, the Nuns Fire was moving east, drive by steep slopes and dry fuel.

What was previously the largest of the North Bay wildfires until today — the Atlas Fire in Napa and Solano counties — has burned 51,064 acres and was 77 percent contained Tuesday morning. It also started Oct. 8 off of Atlas Peak Road south of Lake Berryessa.

The Tubbs Fire, which started off of state Highway 128 and Bennett Lane near Calistoga in Napa County and spread to Santa Rosa and elsewhere in Sonoma County, was 82 percent contained after burning 36,432 acres, Cal Fire officials said. Fire activity is described as smoldering and minimal, with interior fire burning on the northeast corner.

There are other smaller wildfires burning in the area. The 12,430-acre Pocket Fire near Geyserville was 58 percent contained as of Tuesday morning. The fire was continuing to move north, with crews making progress on containment.

The Oakmont Fire has burned 1,029 acres and was 16 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. The fire "is actively burning in a northerly direction with moderate rate of spread," officials said.

At least 4,078 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed and 238 damaged in the Central LNU Complex fires, which include the Tubbs, Pocket, Nuns and Oakmont fires.

At least 22 people have died in the fires in Sonoma County, while at least six have died in Napa County.

In Sonoma County, 1,863 people have been reported missing; of those 1,743 have been located safe or live in other counties. Monday, 80 individuals reported missing remained unaccounted for.

Here are some things to know in Sonoma County:

• Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital, which was evacuated because of the Tubbs Fire, reopened at 7 a.m. Tuesday and is fully operational. For access to the hospital, take Mark West Springs Road off of Highway 101. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for all areas around the hospital currently in the mandatory evacuation zone.
• Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, which was also evacuated because of the Tubbs Fire, has not yet reopened. However, two buildings on the hospital's campus, MOB 1 and MOB 2, have reopened, with pharmacy services available.
• Evacuations orders were lifted at 5 p.m. Monday for: the area of Highway 128 between River Rock casino and Chalk Hill Road; the area east of Faught Road and East Shiloh Road outside the fire perimeter; Sonoma city and county areas north of East Napa Street to the fire perimeter, including the areas north of Napa Street to the fire perimeter, west from 4th Street East and Gehricke Road to Highway 12, including Norrbom Road and associated side roads to the fire perimeter and Gehricke Road; and the area of Bennett Valley/Annadel Heights in the city limits of Santa Rosa.
• Click here for an up-to-date evacuation map for Sonoma County.
• Evacuation areas that are closed are currently being patrolled by 600 members of the National Guard and 200 members of police forces from other communities.
• The Sonoma Post Office at 617 Broadway in Sonoma, the Vineburg Post Office at 20579 Eighth St. E. in Vineburg, the Boyes Hot Springs Post Office at 18092 Sonoma Highway and the El Verano Post Office at 19050 Bay St. are reopening. The three post offices with mail still being sent to the Casa Grande Post Office, located at 1601 Corporate Circle in Petaluma, are the offices in Glen Ellen, Kenwood and Eldridge, postal officials said.
• Citizens with wildfire-related questions can call the Sonoma County Emergency Operation Center Hotline is 707-565-3856 or the Santa Rosa Public Information Line is 707-543-5411.

SEE ALSO:

Sonoma Co. Sheriff: 53 Still Missing After Wildfires

Sonoma County Wildfires, 1 Week In: Containment Up; Region Begins Recovery Process

Napa County Wildfires, 1 Week In: Containment Up; Recovery Process Begins

Volunteers Needed At Solano Co. Large Animal Evacuation Shelter

Patch will update this post throughout the day is more Sonoma County fire-related information is released; please refresh the page for the latest.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photos by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com