With the winds dying down, fire crews gained ground as they battled the wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week, and thousands of people got the all-clear to return home.
While the danger from the deadliest, most destructive cluster of blazes in California history was far from over, the smoky skies started to clear in some places. People were being allowed to go back home in areas no longer in harm香蕉视频直播檚 way, and the number of those under evacuation orders was down to 75,000 from nearly 100,000 the day before.
Many began to take the first steps toward rebuilding their lives.
香蕉视频直播淭his is my home I香蕉视频直播檓 going to come back without question,香蕉视频直播� said Howard Lasker, 56, who returned Sunday with his daughter to view their torched house in Santa Rosa. 香蕉视频直播淚 have to rebuild. I want to rebuild.香蕉视频直播�
The blazes were blamed for at least 40 deaths and destroyed some 5,700 homes and other structures. The death toll could climb as searchers dig through the ruins for people listed as missing. Hundreds were unaccounted for, though authorities said many of them are probably safe but haven香蕉视频直播檛 let anyone know.
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In hard-hit Sonoma County, Sheriff Rob Giordano said authorities have located 1,560 of the more than 1,700 once listed as missing. Many of those names were put on the list after people called from out of state to say they couldn香蕉视频直播檛 reach a friend or relative.
Authorities said they will not let people return home until it is safe and utilities are restored. Pacific Gas and Electric Company said it expects to restore power and gas to the area by late Monday.
Many evacuees grew increasingly impatient to go home 香蕉视频直播� or at least find out whether their homes were spared. Others were reluctant to go back or to look for another place to live.
Juan Hernandez, who escaped with his family from his apartment Oct. 9 before it burned down, still had his car packed and ready to go in case the fires flared up again and threatened his sister香蕉视频直播檚 house, where they have been staying in Santa Rosa.
香蕉视频直播淓very day we keep hearing sirens at night, alarms,香蕉视频直播� Hernandez said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e scared. When you see the fire close to your house, you香蕉视频直播檙e scared.香蕉视频直播�
At the Sonoma fairgrounds, evacuees watched the San Francisco 49ers play the Redskins on television, received treatment from a chiropractor and got free haircuts.
Michael Estrada, who owns a barber shop in neighbouring Marin County but grew up in one of the Santa Rosa neighbourhoods hit hard by the blazes, brought his combs, clippers and scissors and displayed his barbering license in case anyone doubted his credentials.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not saving lives,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just here to make somebody香蕉视频直播檚 day feel better, make them feel normal.香蕉视频直播�
Lois Krier, 86, said it was hard to sleep on a cot in the shelter with people snoring and dogs barking through the night.
She and her husband, William Krier, 89, were anxious to get home, but after being evacuated for a second time in a week Saturday, they didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to risk having to leave again.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e cautious,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to be safe.香蕉视频直播�
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Nearly 11,000 firefighters were still battling 15 fires burning across a 100-mile swath of the state.
In the wooded mountains east of Santa Rosa, where a mandatory evacuation remained in place, a large plume of white smoke rose high in the sky as firefighters tried to prevent the fire from burning into a retirement community and advancing onto the floor of Sonoma Valley, known for its wineries.
Houses that had benefited from repeated helicopter water drops were still standing as smoke blew across surrounding ridges. A deer crossed the highway from a burned-out area and wandered into a vineyard not reached by the flames.
Those who were allowed back into gutted neighbourhoods returned to assess the damage and, perhaps, see if anything was salvageable.
Jack Daniels had recently completed a year-long remodel of his Napa house near the Silverado Country Club and watched it go up in flames last week as he, his wife, 7-year-old grandson and two pugs backed out of the driveway.
His neighbours, Charles Rippey, 100, and his wife, Sara, 98, were the oldest victims identified so far in the wildfires.
Daniels, 74, a wine importer and exporter, said he lost everything left behind, including his wife香蕉视频直播檚 jewelry and 3,000 bottles of wine in his cellar.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 heartbreaking,香蕉视频直播� the 74-year-old said. 香蕉视频直播淭his was going to be our last house. I guess we香蕉视频直播檝e got one more move. But we香蕉视频直播檙e fortunate. We got away. Most things can be replaced. The bank didn香蕉视频直播檛 burn down.香蕉视频直播�
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Melley reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer in Santa Rosa and Janie Har and Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco contributed to this report.
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Follow the AP香蕉视频直播檚 complete wildfire coverage here: https://apnews.com/tag/Wildfires
Sudhin Thanawala And Brian Melley, The Associated Press
