'It's Apocalyptic:' Former North Fork Winery Manager Living In California, On Devastating Fires

SOUTHOLD, NY — As fires devastate Napa and Sonoma counties in California, with the death count rising and scores missing, North Fork residents have been concerned for a former local winery manager who left a few years ago and is now living in the flame and smoke-ravaged area.

James Silver, former general manager of the Peconic Bay Winery, announced he was leaving the North Fork in 2013, and heading for Sonoma and California wine country, where he is now general manager at Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards.

He turned to Facebook this week to share the experience with concerned friends and family. "It's been very difficult to manage communications here last 48 hours — seems like 48 days — but I'd like to thank everyone that reached out and expressed concern; it's been great to hear from you. This was just an inconvenience for our family, not a tragedy, thankfully — scary for sure — but my personal concerns are for my many, many friends who were profoundly impacted, and in fact, lost their possessions and their homes," he said.

Many will have no livelihoods as their businesses are gone, too, Silver, who now lives in the City of Napa after moving from Santa Rosa in Sonoma County a few months ago, said.

"Santa Rosa, as you know by now, was majorly damaged, and neighborhoods we lived in, and restaurants we ate in, not to mention hospitals, hotels, homes and businesses, some historic, have been burnt to the ground. We're distraught."

"The fire is relentless. It just keeps coming"

Speaking to Patch on Wednesday, Silver said what's critical to note is that the danger and reality of the fires is ongoing. "This is still happening," he said.

With fires raging on both sides of his home, Silver said his family has their bag packed, an escape plan, and meeting spots in place.

"My mom just moved to Yountville to be close to us. She bought her house a week ago and it's already being threatened," he said.

Describing what the scene in Napa, Silver said, "The air is unbearable. I've got two masks with me in the car. It's really Apocalyptic."

Everyone driving on Highway 29 in Napa, Silver said, has gas masks.

His young children are even beginning to realize the severity of the situation, as they haven't had school, and won't, at least for a few days, Silver said.

The scenario, he said, is difficult to comprehend.

Cardinal Newman High School, located in Santa Rosa across the street from where Silver once lived, "burned right to the ground," he said.

When asked how friends and concerned individuals can help, he said, "It sounds weird to say but buy some Napa and Sonoma wine."

The fires have interrupted the grape harvest, with repercussions still unknown and a potential heavy hit that could total upwards of $1 billion, "not a small amount of money," Silver said, adding that he's continued to harvest grapes as always despite the raging fire.

Silver said that as of yet, the fires have been an inconvenience, not the tragedy so many others are enduring.

But, he said, the reality is "surreal. It boggles the mind. If you look at the map, the fire is relentless. It just keeps coming."

Still, Silver said, he will never regret the move to California. "This is what you get for living in paradise. It's wonderful. This is just a very unusual situation."

Patch photos courtesy James Silver.