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SEE MOST RECENT UPDATES AT END OF POSTRe PETS SEE BELOW.

Updated Tuesday 10th:  Searching for loved one got to SafeandWell.org. 

What a family needs after a fire: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/list-things-family-needs-after-house-fire-41747.html 

UPDATED ALERT at 3.00 PM Mon 9th Oct: Queen of the Valley hospital in Napa is trying to reach all on call physicians and nurses. Due to the cell service being down. Landline for the Hospital is 707-252-4411 ext: 2911. People can get on Wifi free. I believe.

LATEST VOLUNTEER AND DONATION UPDATE BELOW:

Monday Oct 9th

I woke up in Petaluma, Sonoma County this morning to thick smoky air, ashes on my parked vehicle and the terrifying news that neighboring towns were being evacuated.  I made the decision to head home to Marin County, where the air is lot better.  We are on high alert and neighborhoods are ready to help those afflicted. We are hearing at this 12 Noon hour that over 1500 homes and structures were burned in mostly Santa Rosa area – and that there are injured people being airlifted to hospitals.

If you do not hear from loved ones. do not panic as there are cell phone outages.

I will post information as I receive it – however please do not rely on this BLOG AS YOUR GO TO FOR your safety. Keep an eye on information from CAL FIRE, The County Sheriffs, City and Supervisor information:  etc. etc.

PLEASE be extra cautious everywhere  – October is a fire warning month here in California and conditions are ripe.

The Governor has declared a State of Emergency.

Air Quality very poor across all Bay Area – 68 Square miles burned in Sonoma area as of 1.30 PM Monday Oct 9th.

Information:

The County of Marin is actively assisting nearby counties as it monitors the wildfires that are ravaging our neighbors to the north and east. No areas of Marin County were under evacuation orders.

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office has opened a temporary evacuation center at the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael. The temporary center (no cots or sleeping quarters available) serves as an overflow location for Sonoma and Napa fire evacuees, with capacity up to 2,000 people.

Marin County residents are urged to stay off roads and highways as much as possible to help first-responders get to destinations where help is needed.

As a result of winds near the fires, air quality is poor all over the San Francisco Bay Area.  The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory due to heavy smoke from the fires. The air district is advising residents impacted by wildfire smoke to take the following precautions:

• Reduce exposure to smoky air by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed, if possible and if safe.
• Limit outdoor activities to avoid unnecessary exposure if you smell smoke.
• Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to recirculate to prevent outside air from moving inside.
• Stay tuned to local media for changes in smoke or weather conditions.

For more information on Napa and Sonoma Fire evacuation centers, call 2-1-1. For road closure information, call 2-1-1 or visit Caltrans website map at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

The National Weather Service has issued a

RED FLAG WARNING

FOR ALL OF MARIN COUNTY UNTIL 5 AM TUESDAY

Major fires started Sunday afternoon and overnight and are currently burning in Napa and Sonoma Counties. Mandatory evacuations are underway.

DO NOT CALL 9-1-1 FOR A SMELL OF SMOKE ONLY.  SMOKE IS DRIFTING TO MARIN FROM NEARBY FIRES.  CALL 9-1-1 IF YOU SEE ACTIVE SMOKE OR FIRE LOCALLY.

Strong north and northeast winds and very low humidities will combine to create extreme fire growth potential, contributing to wildfire conditions that fire fighting resources may be unable to control.  Read the full fire weather forecast here…

Marin County Open Space and Water District lands are closed (call to confirm)

• MMWD Mt. Tamalpais watershed lands are closed to public motor vehicle traffic on Sky Oaks Road beyond the Sky Oaks Ranger Station.
• All watershed land use permits have been suspended.
• Natalie Coffin Greene Park is closed to vehicle traffic.
• For additional MMWD closure information, please call (415) 945-1195
• All Marin County Parks events and programs on open space land are cancelled for duration of warning.
• For additional Parks and Open Space closure information, please call (415) 473-6387

What can I do to protect my home and family?

1. Review the Ready, Set, Go wildfire preparedness program
2. Create a wildfire evacuation plan and prepare now, BEFORE a fire starts.
3. Do not use charcoal barbecues.
4. Do not use power tools outdoors.
5. Clean ALL leaves and needles from your roof, rain gutters, and around your house.
6. Do not drive or park in dry grass.
7. Once you’ve completed steps 1-6, take action to create or enhance your home’s Defensible Space.  Directions are available at www.firesafemarin.org/defensible-space.
8. Call 911 if you see smoke or fire.

UPDATED MNOTE 7 PM Mon 9th OCT:

Marin County Offering Wildfire Assistance

We are actively assisting nearby counties with humanitarian and firefighting assistance with the wildfires that are ravaging our neighbors to the north and east. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office opened an evacuation shelter at the Marin Center, 10 Avenue of the Flags, in San Rafael. The temporary shelter now has overnight accommodations for Sonoma County and Napa County fire evacuees. Several hundred people had congregated there by mid-afternoon Monday. The County has been approached by hundreds of incredibly generous people who want to donate goods to those affected by the fires. We received a lot of donations from our agency partners already and, at this time, no more donations can be accepted at Marin Center. Please do not drive to Marin Center to drop off any supplies. Thank you for your understanding on that. Volunteers are encouraged to visit the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership’s website at volunteer.cvnl.org to register as a disaster service worker. That is the best way to contribute humanitarian help. At this time, no volunteers are needed at Marin Center. The County appreciates all the support the community has offered and will provide updates if needs change. For information on Napa and Sonoma fire evacuation centers, call 2-1-1. To follow the County of Marin’s assistance to wildfire victims, check marincounty.org/news or follow www.facebook.com/CountyOfMarin and @maringov on Twitter.

DONATION AND VOLUNTEER UPDATE OCT 10th 9 PM:

Please read and share our latest release on our response efforts to the Napa and Sonoma fires.

The County of Marin continues to provide support to nearby counties affected by the series of wildfires burning throughout the Northern Bay Area. Evacuees from Napa and Sonoma counties have evacuated to Marin County seeking shelter and other resources. EMERGENCY SHELTER ASSISTANCE: The Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opened two temporary evacuation shelters in San Rafael on October 9, housing a combined total of 524 people overnight. In addition to meals and basic shelter, Marin County officials provided evacuees with access to animal care, toys and games for children, showers, and medical and behavioral health services. Community-operated shelters in the West Marin area housed an additional 171 evacuees, and Marin County Parks reported about 50 people who stayed overnight at McNears Beach Park near San Rafael. On Tuesday, evacuees in need of shelter may report to the Marin Center Exhibit Hall at 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael. Small pets such as dogs and cats are welcome at the temporary shelter. DONATIONS: Donations of clothing, food, household goods and other items are NOT needed at this time. The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming and shelters have more supplies than needed. Please do not bring donations to shelter locations. VOLUNTEER SUPPORT: Volunteers are not needed to report directly to the temporary evacuation shelter at Marin Center Exhibit Hall. Alternatively, individuals should register with the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership’s website at volunteer.cvnl.org to register as a disaster service worker. AIR QUALITY: As a result of winds near the fires, air quality is poor all over the San Francisco Bay Area. Smoke from wildfires is expected to continue as the wildfires are not yet contained. People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms are young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with respiratory conditions (such as asthma or emphysema) or heart conditions. The County advises sensitive populations to stay indoors, avoid prolonged activity, and seek medical help if respiratory symptoms worsen. When smoke levels are high, even healthy people may experience symptoms such as coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, headaches, stinging eyes, and a runny nose. Health officials recommend the following: All residents should limit outdoor physical activities and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. Outdoor sporting activities for children should be cancelled Tuesday. Limit all other outdoor activities to avoid unnecessary exposure if you smell smoke. Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside. For up to date information about the wildfires, go to the website of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire). For information about air quality, go to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District website. EVACUATION ORDERS, SHELTER and ROAD CLOSURE INFO: There are multiple ways to access the latest information about available evacuation shelters and road closures: Since cell phone service is limited in many areas, the public is encouraged to text your text your zip code to 888777 to get information such as evacuation orders, emergency shelter locations, and road closures. For people out of the fire zone and can make calls can call 2-1-1 for evacuation, shelter, and other fire related info. Caltrans website map at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov. Marin County residents are urged to stay off roads and highways as much as possible to help first-responders get to destinations where help is needed. Information on how to prepare for evacuation can be found at ready.gov. EVACUATING ANIMALS: Marin Humane will provide emergency boarding options for all domestic animals (cats, dogs, etc.) at its main shelter located at 171 Bel Marin Keys Boulevard, Novato. Additional information can be found by calling 415-883-4621 or following Marin Humane’s Facebook and Twitter page. REUNIFICATION: People who safely escaped the fires can let loved ones know by registering with the Safe and Well registry: safeandwell.org. HOUSING Airbnb is offering zero-cost housing from some hosts in Northern California. STAY CONNECTED: For the latest updates on County of Marin’s response to the Napa and Sonoma fires, follow us on Twitter at @MarinGov, or visit the County’s website at marincounty.org/news. In addition, Marin residents can sign up for emergency alerts from the County for future disasters and emergencies at AlertMarin.org.

 UPDATED WEDS 10 PM OCT 11th

Please read and share our latest release on our response efforts to the Napa and Sonoma fires.

The County of Marin continues to provide support to nearby counties affected by the series of wildfires burning throughout the Northern Bay Area. Evacuees from Napa and Sonoma counties have evacuated to Marin County seeking shelter and other resources. EMERGENCY SHELTER ASSISTANCE: The Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opened two temporary evacuation shelters in San Rafael on October 9, housing a combined total of 524 people overnight. In addition to meals and basic shelter, Marin County officials provided evacuees with access to animal care, toys and games for children, showers, and medical and behavioral health services. Community-operated shelters in the West Marin area housed an additional 171 evacuees, and Marin County Parks reported about 50 people who stayed overnight at McNears Beach Park near San Rafael. On Tuesday, evacuees in need of shelter may report to the Marin Center Exhibit Hall at 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael. Small pets such as dogs and cats are welcome at the temporary shelter. DONATIONS: Donations of clothing, food, household goods and other items are NOT needed at this time. The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming and shelters have more supplies than needed. Please do not bring donations to shelter locations. VOLUNTEER SUPPORT: Volunteers are not needed to report directly to the temporary evacuation shelter at Marin Center Exhibit Hall. Alternatively, individuals should register with the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership’s website at volunteer.cvnl.org to register as a disaster service worker. AIR QUALITY: As a result of winds near the fires, air quality is poor all over the San Francisco Bay Area. Smoke from wildfires is expected to continue as the wildfires are not yet contained. People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms are young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with respiratory conditions (such as asthma or emphysema) or heart conditions. The County advises sensitive populations to stay indoors, avoid prolonged activity, and seek medical help if respiratory symptoms worsen. When smoke levels are high, even healthy people may experience symptoms such as coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, headaches, stinging eyes, and a runny nose. Health officials recommend the following: All residents should limit outdoor physical activities and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. Outdoor sporting activities for children should be cancelled Tuesday. Limit all other outdoor activities to avoid unnecessary exposure if you smell smoke. Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside. For up to date information about the wildfires, go to the website of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire). For information about air quality, go to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District website. EVACUATION ORDERS, SHELTER and ROAD CLOSURE INFO: There are multiple ways to access the latest information about available evacuation shelters and road closures: Since cell phone service is limited in many areas, the public is encouraged to text your text your zip code to 888777 to get information such as evacuation orders, emergency shelter locations, and road closures. For people out of the fire zone and can make calls can call 2-1-1 for evacuation, shelter, and other fire related info. Caltrans website map at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov. Marin County residents are urged to stay off roads and highways as much as possible to help first-responders get to destinations where help is needed. Information on how to prepare for evacuation can be found at ready.gov. EVACUATING ANIMALS: Marin Humane will provide emergency boarding options for all domestic animals (cats, dogs, etc.) at its main shelter located at 171 Bel Marin Keys Boulevard, Novato. Additional information can be found by calling 415-883-4621 or following Marin Humane’s Facebook and Twitter page. REUNIFICATION: People who safely escaped the fires can let loved ones know by registering with the Safe and Well registry: safeandwell.org. HOUSING Airbnb is offering zero-cost housing from some hosts in Northern California. STAY CONNECTED: For the latest updates on County of Marin’s response to the Napa and Sonoma fires, follow us on Twitter at @MarinGov, or visit the County’s website at marincounty.org/news. In addition, Marin residents can sign up for emergency alerts from the County for future disasters and emergencies at AlertMarin.org.

PETS

Resources which are helping pet owners reunite with their animals. Please share with anyone you know who has had to evacuate the North Bay Fires. More animals are coming out of hiding each day and will be added. https://www.facebook.com/SonomaCountyAnimalServices/ https://northbayfirelostfoundpets.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Tubbs-Fire-Missing-Pets-735236436668000/