Tubbs Fire#Cause of the fire
{{Short description|2017 wildfire in Northern California}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox wildfire
| title = Tubbs Fire
| partof = the 2017 North Bay wildfires
| image = Tubbs fire destruction in the coffey park neighborhood.png
| image_size =
| caption = Destroyed homes in the Coffey Park neighborhood
| date = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date|2017|10|08}} – |{{End date|2017|10|31}}}}
| location = Sonoma County, California, Napa County, California, U.S.
| coordinates = {{Coord|38.60895 |-122.62879|type:event_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| cost = ~$1.3 billion (2017 USD){{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-fires-20171013-story.html|title=Death toll from Northern California fires jumps to at least 34; 5,700 structures destroyed|last=Nelson|first=Laura|date=October 1, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 14, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014025500/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-fires-20171013-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/07/31/california-suppression-costs-ferguson-carr-fires/876767002/|title=After the fire comes the bill: The rising cost of fighting California blazes|author=Jorge L. Ortiz|work=USA Today|date=August 1, 2018|access-date=August 30, 2018|archive-date=August 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831042341/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/07/31/california-suppression-costs-ferguson-carr-fires/876767002/|url-status=live}}
| area = {{Convert|36807|acre|km2|0}}
| buildings = 5,643 structures{{cite web|url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/admin8327985/cdf/images/incidentfile1868_3120.pdf|title=Final Incident Fact Sheet-Update October 29, 2017|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=January 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106221636/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/admin8327985/cdf/images/incidentfile1868_3120.pdf|url-status=dead}}
| cause = Failure of private electrical system{{cite web |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/5032/tubbscause1v.pdf |title=Archived copy |publisher=www.fire.ca.gov |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927235447/https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/5032/tubbscause1v.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2019 |url-status=dead}}
| landuse =
| injuries = 1
| perps =
| motive =
}}
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| caption = Location of Tubbs Fire
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| mark1 = FireIcon.svg
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|38.60895 |-122.62879|}}
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| label1 = Tubbs Fire
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The Tubbs Fire was a wildfire in Northern California during October 2017. At the time, the Tubbs Fire was the most destructive wildfire in California history,{{Cite web |url=http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_statsevents |title=Statistics & Events |access-date=January 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622050708/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_statsevents |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Destruction.pdf|title=Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires |publisher=CAL FIRE|access-date=October 20, 2017|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626025601/http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/Top20_Destruction.pdf|url-status=dead}} burning parts of Napa, Sonoma, and Lake counties, inflicting its greatest losses in the city of Santa Rosa. Its destructiveness was surpassed only a year later by the Camp Fire of 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/At-least-five-dead-as-Camp-Fire-lays-waste-to-13378522.php|title=Camp Fire is most destructive wildfire in California history: 9 dead, 6,713 structures incinerated|author1=Kurtis Alexander|author2=Sarah Ravani|author3=Erin Allday|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=November 10, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109235925/https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/At-least-five-dead-as-Camp-Fire-lays-waste-to-13378522.php|url-status=live}} The Tubbs Fire was one of more than a dozen large fires that broke out in early October 2017, which were simultaneously burning in eight Northern California counties, in what was called the "Northern California firestorm".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-napa-fires-20171009-story.html|title=One death and 1,500 structures lost in Northern California firestorm, among worst in state's history|date=October 9, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-date=September 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912114033/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-napa-fires-20171009-story.html|url-status=live}} By the time of its containment on October 31, the fire was estimated to have burned {{Convert|36810|acre|km2|0}};{{cite web|title=Tubbs Fire (Central LNU Complex)|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1867|website=Incident Information|publisher=Cal Fire|access-date=October 31, 2017|ref=-122.62879/38.60895|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010004911/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1867|archive-date=October 10, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7584410-181/nuns-fire-contained-burned-more|title=Tubbs, Nuns, Pocket fires fully contained in Sonoma and Napa counties|author=Randy Rossmann|publisher=The Press Democrat|date=October 31, 2017|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-date=December 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209204058/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7584410-181/nuns-fire-contained-burned-more|url-status=live}} at least 22 people were believed to have been killed in Sonoma County by the fire.{{cite news|last1=Lyons|first1=Jenna|title=Live updates: 36 dead in NorCal fires, 5,700 structures destroyed|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Live-updates-35-dead-NorCal-fires-5700-destroyed-12277244.php|access-date=October 13, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123062343/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Live-updates-35-dead-NorCal-fires-5700-destroyed-12277244.php|url-status=live}}
The fire started near Tubbs Lane in the rural northern part of Calistoga, in Napa County. It destroyed more than 5,643 structures,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/14/us/california-fire-building-damage.html|title=Northern California Fires Have Destroyed at Least 5,700 Buildings|last1=Griggs|first1=Troy|date=October 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 15, 2017|last2=Lee|first2=Jasmine C.|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Park|first3=Haeyoun|last4=Singhvi|first4=Anjali|last5=Wallace|first5=Tim|last6=Ward|first6=Joe|last7=Watkins|first7=Derek|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014235810/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/14/us/california-fire-building-damage.html|url-status=live}} half of which were homes in Santa Rosa.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kcra.com/article/santa-rosa-mayor-2834-homes-destroyed-in-tubbs-fire/12836229|title=Santa Rosa mayor: 2,834 homes destroyed in Tubbs Fire|author=KCRA staff|date=October 12, 2017|work=KCRA|access-date=October 12, 2017|language=en|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012232553/http://www.kcra.com/article/santa-rosa-mayor-2834-homes-destroyed-in-tubbs-fire/12836229|url-status=live}} Santa Rosa's economic loss from the Tubbs Fire was estimated at $1.2 billion (2017 USD), with five percent of the city's housing stock destroyed. The Tubbs Fire also incurred an additional $100 million in fire suppression costs.
After an investigation lasting over a year, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) determined that the Tubbs Fire was "caused by a private electrical system adjacent to a residential structure"{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pge-fire-santa-rosa-20190124-story.html | title=Private power lines, not PG&E's, caused deadly wine country fire, state says | website=Los Angeles Times | date=January 25, 2019 }} and that there had been no violations of the state's Public Resources Code.{{Cite press release |url=https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/5032/tubbscause1v.pdf|title=CAL FIRE Investigators Determine the Cause of the Tubbs Fire|date=January 24, 2019 |publisher=Cal Fire News Release|access-date=January 25, 2019
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927235447/https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/5032/tubbscause1v.pdf
|archive-date=September 27, 2019}} However, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) later agreed to settle victims' claims as part of a general $13.5 billion bankruptcy plan involving liabilities from other wildfires, and also issued payments to Sonoma County and the city of Santa Rosa as part of a separate settlement with local governments.{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=J. D. |date=2020-10-08 |title=On anniversary of Tubbs Fire, PG&E settlement shapes Sonoma County debate on future |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/PG-E-settlement-reshapes-Sonoma-County-s-2017-15629692.php |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206040709/https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/PG-E-settlement-reshapes-Sonoma-County-s-2017-15629692.php |url-status=live }}
Progression
=October 8=
The Tubbs Fire started near Tubbs Lane in Calistoga,{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Latest-on-North-Bay-fires-A-really-rough-12263721.php|title=Live updates: 150 people missing as death toll rises to 11 in Wine Country fires|last1=Fimrite|first1=Peter|date=October 10, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 10, 2017|last2=Tucker|first2=Jill|last3=Said|first3=Carolyn|last4=Cabanatuan|first4=Michael|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010035826/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Latest-on-North-Bay-fires-A-really-rough-12263721.php|url-status=live}} around 9:43 p.m. on Sunday, October 8.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/12/us/california-wildfire-conditions-speed.html|title=Minutes to Escape: How One California Wildfire Damaged So Much So Quickly|last1=Griggs|first1=Troy|date=October 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2017|last2=Lai|first2=K. K. Rebecca|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Park|first3=Haeyoun|last4=Patel|first4=Jugal K.|last5=White|first5=Jeremy|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012124747/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/12/us/california-wildfire-conditions-speed.html|url-status=live}} The first public officer on scene was a police officer from the Calistoga Police Department, who documented the fire.{{Cite web |last=CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION SONOMA-LAKE NAPA UNIT |date=8 October 2017 |title=Tubbs Incident Investigation Report |url=https://s1.q4cdn.com/880135780/files/doc_downloads/2019/05/TUBBS-LE80_Redacted.pdf |access-date=17 March 2025}} As it and other North Bay fires began to spread, Sonoma County emergency dispatchers sent fire crews to at least 10 reports of downed power lines and exploding transformers. In northern Santa Rosa, the peak wind gusts at 9:29 p.m. hit 30 mph; an hour later, they were 41 mph.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/12/california-fires-pge-power-lines-fell-in-winds-that-werent-hurricane-strength/|title=California fire mystery: PG&E lines fell in winds that weren't 'hurricane strength'|last=Rogers|first=Paul|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Mercury News|access-date=October 14, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013104419/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/12/california-fires-pge-power-lines-fell-in-winds-that-werent-hurricane-strength/|url-status=live}}
Pushed by strong winds from the northeast, the front of the fire moved more than twelve miles in its first three hours. The Mark West Springs area, north of Santa Rosa in unincorporated Sonoma County, was directly in the path of the fire. Notably, over a thousand animals at the Safari West Wildlife Preserve remained unharmed, saved by owner Peter Lang, who, aged 76, single-handedly fought back the flames for more than 10 hours, using only garden hoses.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7512550-181/safari-west-owner-had-a|title=Safari West owner had 'a thousand souls' to save from Tubbs fire|last=Payne|first=Paul|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Press Democrat|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013010751/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7512550-181/safari-west-owner-had-a|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/How-Safari-West-s-giraffes-cheetahs-and-hippos-12276896.php|title=How Safari West's giraffes, cheetahs and rhinos survived the Tubbs Fire|last=Aleaziz|first=Hamed|date=October 13, 2017|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014001819/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/How-Safari-West-s-giraffes-cheetahs-and-hippos-12276896.php|url-status=live}}
Sonoma County officials could have sent out an emergency alert to every cellphone in the region on Sunday night as the fire grew, but chose not to, saying such a widespread alarm would have hampered emergency efforts. Instead, location based SMS and email alerts were broadcast – the first of these text messages going out at 10:51 pm, using a system called SoCo Alerts to notify people via cellphone; both are limited to those who sign up for these services. Officials also used a reverse 911 system that called landlines in certain areas.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/12/tubbs-fire-why-didnt-sonoma-county-send-a-cellphone-alert/|title=Wine Country fires: Why didn't Sonoma County send a cellphone alert?|last=Kurhi|first=Eric|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Mercury News|access-date=October 14, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014083852/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/12/tubbs-fire-why-didnt-sonoma-county-send-a-cellphone-alert/|url-status=live}} At 11:58 pm, firefighters called for an evacuation order encompassing the area between the cities of Calistoga and Santa Rosa.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/21/us/california-fire-damage-map.html|title=How California's Most Destructive Wildfire Spread, Hour by Hour|last=Watkins|first=Derek|date=October 2, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 29, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129065441/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/21/us/california-fire-damage-map.html|url-status=live}}
=October 9=
File:Puerto Vallarta burns.jpg
File:Tubbs Fire, 09 October, 2017, MODIS Terra visible satellite image.tif Terra visible satellite image]]
File:Tubbs Fire, 10 October, 2017, MODIS Terra visible satellite image.tif Terra visible satellite image]]
File:Tubbs Fire, 09 October, 2017, MODIS Terra 721 satellite image.tif Terra 721 satellite image]]
By 1 a.m. on Monday, the fire, spreading quickly to the south and west, had reached the Santa Rosa city limits. The advancing flames entered the city from the north,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-santa-rosa-fire-20171009-story.html|title=Santa Rosa under siege as huge fire carves path of destruction|date=October 9, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 9, 2017}} moving into the Fountaingrove area, then moving down ravines between Mark West Springs Road and Fountaingrove Parkway.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/How-the-deadly-Tubbs-Fire-blitzed-Santa-Rosa-12268552.php|title=How the deadly Tubbs Fire blitzed Santa Rosa, overwhelming residents and firefighters|last=Tucker|first=Jill|date=October 11, 2017|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013194904/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/How-the-deadly-Tubbs-Fire-blitzed-Santa-Rosa-12268552.php?|url-status=live}} At about 1:30 am, Sonoma County officials began to evacuate neighborhoods in and around Santa Rosa. In all, tens of thousands of people were evacuated with very little notice.[http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7506978-181/fires-burn-across-sonoma-and Fires burn across Sonoma and Napa counties as thousands flee devastating flames] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010023718/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7506978-181/fires-burn-across-sonoma-and |date=October 10, 2017 }}. Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, October 9, 2017
By about 2 am, the fire, carried by near hurricane-level winds, had spread further to the west, crossing Highway 101. By 4:30 am, the winds had reached their peak speed of more than 60 miles per hour.
The fire devastated the Coffey Park neighborhood,{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/photos-neighborhood-destroyed-wildfire-santa-rosa-california/story?id=50397309|title=Before and after photos of California neighborhood destroyed by wildfire|last=Miller|first=Andrea|date=October 1, 2017|website=ABC News|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013022638/http://abcnews.go.com/US/photos-neighborhood-destroyed-wildfire-santa-rosa-california/story?id=50397309|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/la-me-santa-rosa-slider-20171009-htmlstory.html|title=Before & After: Subdivision in Santa Rosa destroyed by fire|date=October 9, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 13, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012150502/http://www.latimes.com/la-me-santa-rosa-slider-20171009-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}} where an estimated 1,300 structures, mostly detached homes, were leveled.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/12/us/santa-rosa-california-fires-damage.html|title=Satellite Images Show 1,800 Buildings Destroyed by Fire in Santa Rosa|last1=Singhvi|first1=Anjali|date=October 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 13, 2017|last2=Watkins|first2=Derek|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013023050/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/12/us/santa-rosa-california-fires-damage.html|url-status=live}} Meanwhile, east of the highway, the Fountaingrove Inn, the historic Fountaingrove Round Barn nearby, and a large Hilton hotel were destroyed;{{cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7507522-181/santa-rosa-fire-consumes-businesses|title=Fire destroys Paradise Ridge Winery, Fountaingrove Inn, Willi's Wine Bar, other local landmarks|date=October 9, 2017|newspaper=The Press Democrat|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010095710/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7507522-181/santa-rosa-fire-consumes-businesses|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/10/us/california-fires-maps-photos.html|title=Before and After Photos: Fires Tear Through California's Wine Country|last1=Almukhtar|first1=Sarah|date=October 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 13, 2017|last2=Carlsen|first2=Audrey|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Huang|first3=Jon|last4=Lai|first4=K. K. Rebecca|last5=Lee|first5=Jasmine C.|last6=Patel|first6=Jugal K.|last7=Singhvi|first7=Anjali|last8=Watkins|first8=Derek|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012201059/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/10/us/california-fires-maps-photos.html|url-status=live}} 116 of the 160 units at the Journey's End Mobile Home Park burned to the ground, while the remainder of the park was later red-tagged due to heavy damage.{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Lizzie|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Displaced-seniors-homes-survived-Wine-Country-12917491.php|title=Displaced seniors' homes survived Wine Country fires—but residents can't move back|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=May 15, 2018|access-date=May 20, 2018|archive-date=May 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518155619/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Displaced-seniors-homes-survived-Wine-Country-12917491.php|url-status=live}} Other damage along several streets bordering Highway 101 included a Kmart store and numerous restaurants that burned to the ground.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/napa-sonoma-fires-aerial-photos-2017-10/#coffey-park-which-gives-the-neighborhood-its-name-was-also-untouched-4|title=Aerial photos reveal the shocking damage of California's deadliest wildfire on record|last=Robinson|first=Melia|date=October 12, 2017|work=Business Insider|access-date=October 13, 2017|language=en|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013014645/http://www.businessinsider.com/napa-sonoma-fires-aerial-photos-2017-10#coffey-park-which-gives-the-neighborhood-its-name-was-also-untouched-4|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7507522-181/santa-rosa-fire-consumes-businesses?artslide=0|title=Fire destroys Paradise Ridge Winery, Fountaingrove Inn, Willi's Wine Bar, other local landmarks|date=October 9, 2017|work=The Press Democrat|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013120734/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7507522-181/santa-rosa-fire-consumes-businesses?artslide=0|url-status=live}}
By noon on Monday, two medical centers in Santa Rosa, Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, had been evacuated.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/More-than-100-injured-in-Wine-Country-fires-12264520.php|title=More than 100 injured in Wine Country fires treated at hospitals|last1=Ho|first1=Vivian|date=October 9, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009204332/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/More-than-100-injured-in-Wine-Country-fires-12264520.php|url-status=live}} Some Kaiser employees reportedly used their personal vehicles to evacuate some of the 130 patients at that hospital.{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Kaiser-Santa-Rosa-fire-patients-evacuated-Tubbs-12264180.php|title=130 patients evacuated from Kaiser hospital in Santa Rosa|last1=Graff|first1=Amy|date=October 9, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010041918/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Kaiser-Santa-Rosa-fire-patients-evacuated-Tubbs-12264180.php|url-status=live}}
The destruction on Monday also included the complete loss of a senior living complex, Oakmont of Villa Capri; Hidden Valley Satellite, a primary school; and the Santa Rosa portion of Paradise Ridge Winery. The Cardinal Newman High School campus was badly damaged, as was one end of the Luther Burbank Center for the Performing Arts. Redwood Adventist Academy was also destroyed in the fire.{{cite news|url=http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story5535-redwood-adventist-academy-destroyed-by-california-wildfire|title=Redwood Adventist Academy Destroyed by California Wildfire|last1=Lorenz|first1=Julie|date=October 11, 2017|newspaper=Adventist Review|access-date=October 11, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014021555/http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story5535-redwood-adventist-academy-destroyed-by-california-wildfire|url-status=live}} Another large concentration of burned homes was in the Larkfield-Wikiup area, about a mile north of the city, where about 500 buildings were destroyed.
Of the 2,900 homes destroyed in Santa Rosa, over 200 of them belonged to doctors associated with the area's hospitals, including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Hospital's Santa Rosa Center, and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7546178-181/hundreds-of-sonoma-county-doctors|title=1 out of every 6 doctors in Santa Rosa lost their home in fires|last=Espinoza|first=Martin|date=October 2, 2017|work=Santa Rosa Press Democrat|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=January 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130013802/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7546178-181/hundreds-of-sonoma-county-doctors|url-status=live}} Additionally, the fire destroyed Santa Rosa Community Health's Vista Campus, the largest in its system, which served 24,000 people annually.{{Cite news|url=http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/industrynews/healthcare/7622612-181/santa-rosa-vista-clinic-destroyed|title=Santa Rosa Vista clinic destroyed by wildfire|date=November 1, 2017|work=The North Bay Business Journal|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=January 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130013910/http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/industrynews/healthcare/7622612-181/santa-rosa-vista-clinic-destroyed|url-status=dead}}
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company cut off natural gas to 31,000 customers in the Santa Rosa and Windsor areas as a precaution.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7520062-181/utilities-crews-in-sonoma-county|title=Utilities crews in Sonoma County scramble to restore gas, cellphone service|last=Kovner|first=Guy|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Press Democrat|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013120728/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7520062-181/utilities-crews-in-sonoma-county|url-status=live}}
=October 10=
Wind direction turned clockwise from northeasterly to southerly (compare MODIS satellite images). At a town hall meeting on the evening of October 10 in Santa Rosa, Cal Fire representatives reported that there could be as many as 3,000 structures lost to the Tubbs and Atlas fires.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kcra.com/article/santa-rosa-mayor-2834-homes-destroyed-in-tubbs-fire/12836229|title=Nearly 3,000 homes destroyed by Sonoma County wildfire|author=KCRA Staff|date=October 1, 2017|work=KCRA|access-date=November 19, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116143502/http://www.kcra.com/article/santa-rosa-mayor-2834-homes-destroyed-in-tubbs-fire/12836229|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-santa-rosa-future-20171024-story.html|title=With 5% of its housing destroyed by fire, Santa Rosa faces wrenching questions about its future|last1=Vives|first1=Ruben|date=October 2, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 19, 2017|last2=Winton|first2=Richard|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|last3=Branson-Potts|first3=Hailey|archive-date=November 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118201612/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-santa-rosa-future-20171024-story.html|url-status=live}}
=October 11=
On Wednesday, October 11, the entire town of Calistoga was evacuated;{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Live-updates-23-dead-in-Wine-Country-fires-12271728.php|title=Live updates: 23 dead in Wine Country fires; parts of city of Napa warned|last1=Lyons|first1=Jenna|date=October 11, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 11, 2017|last2=Rubenstein|first2=Steve|last3=Aleaziz|first3=Hamed|last4=Fimrite|first4=Peter|last5=Tucker|first5=Jill|archive-date=May 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523202328/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Live-updates-23-dead-in-Wine-Country-fires-12271728.php|url-status=live}} about 2,000 people were asked to leave.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kcra.com/article/3500-homes-businesses-destroyed-by-fires-in-norcal-wine-country-weather-conditions-fan-flames/12823343|title=New evacuations ordered as Napa County wildfires grow|author=KCRA staff|date=October 12, 2017|work=KCRA|access-date=October 12, 2017|language=en|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012011146/http://www.kcra.com/article/3500-homes-businesses-destroyed-by-fires-in-norcal-wine-country-weather-conditions-fan-flames/12823343|url-status=live}} The escape for some was along roads walled by flames.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7516126-181/fires-in-fourth-day-threaten?artslide=0|title=Fires in fourth day threaten thousands of homes in Sonoma, Napa counties|last=Payne|first=Paul|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Press Democrat|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013120722/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7516126-181/fires-in-fourth-day-threaten?artslide=0|url-status=live}} The Lake County Sheriff's Office issued an advisory evacuation notice for residents in the Middletown area, to the north of Calistoga.{{Cite news|url=http://kron4.com/2017/10/11/lake-countys-middletown-under-advisory-evacuation/|title=Lake County's Middletown under advisory evacuation|last=Kirschenheuter|first=Emily|date=October 1, 2017|work=KRON4.com|access-date=October 14, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014133000/http://kron4.com/2017/10/11/lake-countys-middletown-under-advisory-evacuation/|url-status=live}}
One active part of the fire was east of the town of Windsor, with the fire burning from Shiloh ridge to Chalk Hill Road and Knights Valley.
=October 12=
As of 7 a.m. on Thursday, the Tubbs Fire had burned 34,270 acres, and was 10 percent contained.{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-northern-california-firestorms-20171012-story.html|title=Death toll climbs to 29 as crews begin grim search among ashes of wine country fires|last1=Kohli|first1=Sonali|date=October 1, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 12, 2017|last2=Sahagun|first2=Louis|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|last3=John|first3=Paige St|last4=Agrawal|first4=Nina|last5=Megerian|first5=Chris|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012171555/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-northern-california-firestorms-20171012-story.html|url-status=live}} In the city of Santa Rosa, officials said that the fire had destroyed an estimated 2,834 homes, along with about 400,000 square feet of commercial space.
As of Thursday morning, efforts continued to be focused on two areas:
- Near the northwest corner of Napa County, firefighters were battling the fire around Mount St. Helena, but they started pulling back before noon; the fire had hopped Highway 29, which runs adjacent to the mountain north of the evacuated town of Calistoga. There was no fire activity in the town itself, with the blaze spreading north and east of Calistoga through rugged terrain into Lake County, south of Middletown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7520011-181/fires-grow-in-sonoma-napa|title=Fires grow in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties as death toll rises|last1=Payne|first1=Paul|last2=Rossman|first2=Randi|date=October 1, 2017|website=The Press Democrat|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013183617/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7520011-181/fires-grow-in-sonoma-napa|url-status=live}} By Thursday afternoon, only a few dozen people had refused to evacuate from Calistoga.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7520024-181/empty-calistoga-braces-as-tubbs?artslide=0|title=Empty Calistoga braces as Tubbs fire expands in Napa County|last=Barber|first=Phil|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Press Democrat|access-date=October 13, 2017|archive-date=October 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014083409/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7520024-181/empty-calistoga-braces-as-tubbs?artslide=0|url-status=live}}
- In northern Sonoma County, the fire was being monitored in the area to the east of Healdsburg and Windsor. Sonoma County ordered Rio Lindo Adventist Academy, a boarding school on the outskirts of Healdsburg near the edge of the Tubbs fire, to prepare to evacuate if necessary.
Among the losses reported on Thursday was the destruction of the Santa Rosa hillside home of late Peanuts creator Charles Schulz; his widow, Jean Schulz, escaped unhurt. By Thursday evening, 28,000 customers in the Santa Rosa and Windsor areas still had not had their gas service restored.
= October 13–31 =
On Friday morning, October 13, the fire was 25 percent contained.{{Cite news|url=http://kron4.com/2017/10/13/firefighters-make-progress-on-tubbs-fire-atlas-fire-containment/|title=Firefighters make progress on Tubbs Fire, Atlas Fire containment|last=Kirschenheuter|first=Emily|date=October 1, 2017|work=KRON4.com|access-date=October 14, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013193556/http://kron4.com/2017/10/13/firefighters-make-progress-on-tubbs-fire-atlas-fire-containment/|url-status=live}} It remained about two miles outside of Calistoga's city limits.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Calistoga-eerily-quiet-as-Tubbs-Fire-looms-on-12276571.php|title=Calistoga eerily quiet as Tubbs Fire looms on outskirts of town|last=Thadani|first=Trisha|date=October 13, 2017|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013232600/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Calistoga-eerily-quiet-as-Tubbs-Fire-looms-on-12276571.php|url-status=live}}
A fire erupted in the hills east of Oakmont late Friday night, prompting the mandatory evacuation of neighborhoods early Saturday morning from Calistoga Road to Adobe Canyon Road, along Highway 12. The zone included several schools and the Oakmont Village retirement neighborhood. Evacuations for the area were lifted by late the following Wednesday.
By Saturday morning, October 14, the fire was 44 percent contained.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7523301-181/towns-on-edge-as-death?artslide=0|title=Winds pose peril as fires' toll rises in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino counties|last=Kovner|first=Guy|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Press Democrat|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015095143/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7523301-181/towns-on-edge-as-death?artslide=0|url-status=live}} A "small army of firefighters and police" was positioned between where the fire was most active, north of Calistoga, and the city itself.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Calistoga-eerily-quiet-as-Tubbs-Fire-looms-on-12276571.php|title=In Calistoga, firefighters on front line snuff the spread of flames, embers|last=Lang|first=Marissa|date=October 14, 2017|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 14, 2017|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013232600/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Calistoga-eerily-quiet-as-Tubbs-Fire-looms-on-12276571.php|url-status=live}}
In the Fountaingrove area of Santa Rosa, firefighters and utility crews combed through the ruins left by the fire. Fire officials searched for dangerous hot spots that could re-ignite the blaze, and utility workers began cleaning up the demolished neighborhoods.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/14/officials-issue-new-evacuation-orders-crews-respond-to-new-lake-county-fire/|title=Wildfires continue to spread, destroy homes; death toll reaches 40|last=Sciacca|first=Annie|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Mercury News|access-date=October 15, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015030708/http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/14/officials-issue-new-evacuation-orders-crews-respond-to-new-lake-county-fire/|url-status=live}} Historical archives of Hewlett-Packard (consisting of over 100 boxes of documents from William Hewlett and David Packard, who had founded the company in Silicon Valley in 1938) were completely lost when two buildings on the Fountaingrove headquarters campus of Keysight Technologies were incinerated.{{Cite web |last=Digitale |first=Robert |date=2017-10-29 |title=HP historical archives destroyed in Santa Rosa fires |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/business/hewlett-packard-historical-archives-destroyed-in-santa-rosa-fires/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Santa Rosa Press Democrat |language=en-US |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603215146/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/business/hewlett-packard-historical-archives-destroyed-in-santa-rosa-fires/ |url-status=live }} A former HP employee who had previously been in charge of the archives commented that "a huge piece of American business history is gone", and Keysight disputed criticism that the archives (which it had acquired at the time of its founding as a HP spin-off in 2014) had been inadequately protected.
File:Fountaingrove after the October 2017 Northern California wildfires.jpg|Remains of a house on Cross Creek Road in Fountaingrove on November 1, 2017
File:11 November 2017, Napa, Sonoma fires, Landsat 8, bands 753.tif|November 11, 2017, Landsat 8 OLI, bands 753, Napa, Sonoma fires of October 2017
File:11 November 2017, Tubbs Fire, SantaRosa, Landsat 8, bands 753.tif|November 11, 2017, Landsat 8 OLI, bands 753, false color infra-red satellite image, zoom to full resolution on Santa Rosa, California. Scale: 1:24,000.
File:Hilton staircase.jpg|Staircase leading to the west wing buildings of the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country Hotel on November 17, 2017
File:FI and JEMHP overview.jpg|Overlook view of the damage to the Fountaingrove Inn (foreground) and Journey's End on November 17, 2017
File:FRB before and after.jpg|The historic Fountaingrove Round Barn before and after the fire on November 17, 2017
File:Santa Rosa 4Mar2018 SkySat.jpg|SkySat satellite image of the aftermath of the Tubbs Fire in the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa, California, March 4, 2018.
Containment progress
Comparison to the Hanly Fire
In 1964, the Hanly Fire, the third largest fire in Sonoma County history, burned 52,700 acres, with striking similarities to the Tubbs Fire.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2217177-181/redwood-empire-fire-history-remains|title=Redwood Empire fire history remains visible in wild spots|last=Kovner|first=Guy|date=September 1, 2013|work=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, California|access-date=October 16, 2017|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019080420/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2217177-181/redwood-empire-fire-history-remains?|url-status=live}} The damage caused by the two fires differed dramatically, however: since 1964, hundreds of expensive homes, a golf course and clubhouse restaurant, office and medical buildings, light industry, lakeside retirement homes, a long row of nursing facilities, and two hotels were built in the Fountaingrove area, which had been almost entirely open land in 1964.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7382773-181/gaye-lebaron-tubbs-fire-revives|title=Tubbs fire revives memory of a blaze that now haunts Santa Rosa|last=LeBaron|first=Gaye|date=October 1, 2017|work=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, California|access-date=October 16, 2017|archive-date=October 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016122543/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7382773-181/gaye-lebaron-tubbs-fire-revives|url-status=live}}
The path the Hanly Fire took in 1964 began in Calistoga, then along Porter Creek and Mark West Springs roads into Sonoma County, burning homes along Mark West Springs and Riebli roads, through Wikiup, and to Mendocino Avenue, where it stopped, across the street from Journey's End Mobile Home Park.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2377919-181/lebaron-historic-wildfires-catastrophic-lessons|title=Historic wildfires' catastrophic lessons|last=LeBaron|first=Gaye|date=July 1, 2014|work=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, California|access-date=October 16, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018112913/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2377919-181/lebaron-historic-wildfires-catastrophic-lessons?|url-status=live}} The fire was propelled by 70 mph winds, close to hurricane strength; it initially went east from Calistoga, but on the third day its direction switched, going south-west from Calistoga to Santa Rosa in only about half a day. The Hanly Fire only destroyed a few dozen homes, as the area it burned was so sparsely settled in 1964.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/state/2393494-181/park-agencies-landowners-gird-for|title=Park agencies, landowners gird for fire season (w/video)|last=Hansen|first=Jamie|date=July 2, 2014|work=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, California|access-date=October 16, 2017|archive-date=February 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221025513/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/state/2393494-181/park-agencies-landowners-gird-for|url-status=live}}
Sonoma County has four "historic wildfire corridors,"{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/redwood-empire-fire-history-remains-visible-in-wild-spots/|title=Redwood Empire fire history remains visible in wild spots|last=Kovner|first=Guy|date=September 1, 2013|work=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, California|access-date=January 4, 2018|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107172812/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/redwood-empire-fire-history-remains-visible-in-wild-spots/|url-status=live}} including the Hanly Fire area. New homes in the fire zones are required to meet building code requirements for fire-resistant materials for siding, roofing and decks, with protected eaves to keep out windblown embers. Those measures made little difference in the Tubbs Fire. For example, despite a 100-foot fire break that ringed much of the Fountaingrove II subdivision, which consisted of 600 upscale homes in the same path as the Hanly Fire,{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2153933-181/cutting-the-risk|title=Cutting the risk|last=Kovner|first=Guy|date=November 3, 2007|work=The Press Democrat|location=Santa Rosa, California|access-date=October 17, 2017|archive-date=October 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017093839/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2153933-181/cutting-the-risk|url-status=live}} virtually the entire subdivision was destroyed by the Tubbs Fire.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fountaingroveii.com/sites/default/files/upload/final_fgii-composite_map-2016_18x26_400sc.pdf |title=Updated Composite Map – 2016 – Fountaingrove II |publisher=Fountaingrove II Open Space Maintenance Association |access-date=October 16, 2017 |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017093727/http://www.fountaingroveii.com/sites/default/files/upload/final_fgii-composite_map-2016_18x26_400sc.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://api.mapbox.com/styles/v1/robinkraft/cj8nn4lvp7yoq2ro1klhjltw8.html?fresh=true&title=true&access_token=pk.eyJ1Ijoicm9iaW5rcmFmdCIsImEiOiJQLUp2RU9NIn0.B20c6fiHx0NCgfSOE3HYbw#15.15/38.483/-122.6974|title=NorCal Fires, Santa Rosa and Kenwood 10/14 normal color. Further east 10/12 false color|last=Kraft|first=Robin|date=October 14, 2017|department=Mapbox|publisher=Overview news|access-date=October 17, 2017|archive-date=October 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017093636/https://api.mapbox.com/styles/v1/robinkraft/cj8nn4lvp7yoq2ro1klhjltw8.html?fresh=true&title=true&access_token=pk.eyJ1Ijoicm9iaW5rcmFmdCIsImEiOiJQLUp2RU9NIn0.B20c6fiHx0NCgfSOE3HYbw#15.15/38.483/-122.6974|url-status=live}}
News and social media coverage
The fire was covered extensively and in depth by news outlets from around the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.{{efn|Several local outlets received national recognition for their broadcasts. KXTV (Continuing Coverage) and KNTV (Hard News, News Documentary) won Edward R. Murrow Awards, while KPIX won the National Headliner Award and the Sigma Delta Chi Award (both for Breaking News coverage).{{cite news|last=Wing|first=Kevin|url=https://emmysf.tv/membership-2/off-camera-past-issues/may-2018-off-camera/s-f-norcal-chapter-stations-receive-2018-edward-r-murrow-honors/|title=Chapter Stations Receive 2018 Edward R. Murrow Awards|publisher=National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|location=San Francisco|date=May 2018|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-date=August 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816230552/https://emmysf.tv/membership-2/off-camera-past-issues/may-2018-off-camera/s-f-norcal-chapter-stations-receive-2018-edward-r-murrow-honors/|url-status=dead}}{{indent|3}}{{cite news|last=Wing|first=Kevin|url=https://emmysf.tv/membership-2/june-2018-off-camera/kpix-awards-may-2018/|title=KPIX Honored with Two National Awards for North Bay Wildfires Coverage|publisher=National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|location=San Francisco|date=June 2018|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-date=August 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817023127/https://emmysf.tv/membership-2/june-2018-off-camera/kpix-awards-may-2018/|url-status=live}}}} In addition to local coverage, CNN and Fox News were on scene in Sonoma County, focusing primarily on northern Santa Rosa.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-wildfires-kill-at-least-15-more-than-200-reported-missing-in-wine-country/|title=California wildfires kill at least 15, more than 200 reported missing in wine country|last=Fedschun|first=Travis|date=October 1, 2017|work=Fox News|access-date=November 19, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=November 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108231344/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/10/10/10-dead-more-than-100-reported-missing-in-wine-country-fires.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/09/us/california-fires/index.html|title=Fast-moving wildfires kill 10, devour buildings in Northern California|author1=Ralph Ellis|author2=Joe Sterling|author3=Paul P. Murphy|author4=Eliott C. McLaughlin|work=CNN|access-date=November 19, 2017|archive-date=November 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119011420/http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/09/us/california-fires/index.html|url-status=live}} The majority of communication regarding the fire came from social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Nixle.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Sign-ups-for-emergency-messaging-service-Nixle-12267930.php|title=Signups for emergency messaging service Nixle rise amid cellular outages|work=SFGate|access-date=November 19, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030748/http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Sign-ups-for-emergency-messaging-service-Nixle-12267930.php|url-status=live}}
From October 9 through 13, Snapchat ran a geolocation tagging filter to isolate material about the fire, and these posts were featured on the Discover page.{{Cite web|url=https://support.snapchat.com/en-US/a/discover-how-to|title=Snapchat Support: About Discover|website=Snapchat|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=June 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615170643/https://support.snapchat.com/en-US/a/discover-how-to|url-status=live}} By October 11, over 12,000 videos and images had been uploaded to Snapchat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.snaplytics.io/analytics/california/santarosa/|title=Santa Rosa, California Snapchat and Instagram Analytics|date=March 10, 2024 }}{{dead link|date=August 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Donald Laird, an instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College, and Richard Dunn, a local photographer, submitted featured posts.{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7567901-181/father-son-collecting-fire-damaged-photos?artslide=0|title=Santa Rosa fires: Father, son collecting fire-damaged photos to restore and return to owners|date=October 2, 2017|work=Santa Rosa Press Democrat|access-date=November 19, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033152/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/7567901-181/father-son-collecting-fire-damaged-photos?artslide=0|url-status=live}}
Twitter analytics revealed that the majority of tweets about the Tubbs Fire were posted on October 11.{{Cite web|url=https://analytics.twitter.com/tag/SantaRosaFire|title=Twitter Analytics for #SantaRosaFire|website=Twitter}}{{dead link|date=August 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
The Press Democrat staff also won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for "lucid and tenacious coverage of historic wildfires that ravaged the city of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County".{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/staff-press-democrat|title=Staff of The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, Calif.|website=Pulitzer.org|year=2018|access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-date=December 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217062634/https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/staff-press-democrat|url-status=live}}
Cause of the fire and victim claims against PG&E
Suspicion for the cause of the fire fell on energy company Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), but the company seemed to be cleared of responsibility in this incident after Cal Fire released the results of its investigation on January 24, 2019, upon which news the company's stock price jumped dramatically.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9207814-181/cal-fire-says-tubbs-fire|title=Cal Fire: Private equipment, not PG&E, caused Tubbs fire|last1=Callahan|first1=Mary|last2=Johnson|first2=Julie|date=January 2, 2019|website=Santa Rosa Press Democrat|access-date=January 25, 2019|archive-date=January 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124235809/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9207814-181/cal-fire-says-tubbs-fire|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/business/9207983-181/pges-stock-soars-on-new|title=PG&E's stock jumps 75 percent as financial outlook brightens|date=January 2, 2019|website=Santa Rosa Press Democrat|access-date=January 25, 2019|archive-date=January 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125053058/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/business/9207983-181/pges-stock-soars-on-new|url-status=live}} However, some private experts disagreed and thought PG&E lines arcing might still have been the cause.{{Cite web |last=Van Derbeken |first=Jaxon |date=2019-09-26 |title=Photos Show PG&E Lines Sparked Tubbs Fire: Expert |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/photos-show-pge-lines-sparked-tubbs-fire-expert/182112/ |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=NBC Bay Area |language=en-US |archive-date=August 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822180940/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/photos-show-pge-lines-sparked-tubbs-fire-expert/182112/ |url-status=live }}
On August 14, 2019, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali, the federal judge for the PG&E bankruptcy proceedings, presided over a hearing for victims of the Tubbs Fire, and they presented their case for a fast-track state civil trial by jury to resolve if PG&E were at fault for the Tubbs Fire, rather than customer equipment causing the fire as determined by Cal Fire. The judge's ruling on this trial had important ramifications for how Tubbs Fire victims were to be compensated and the schedule for the bankruptcy.{{cite news |first=Julie |last=Johnson |title=Tubbs fire victims urge bankruptcy judge to allow civil trial against PG&E |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9902957-181/tubbs-fire-victims-urge-bankruptcy?sba=AAS |newspaper=The Press Democrat |date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815162949/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9902957-181/tubbs-fire-victims-urge-bankruptcy%3Fsba%3DAAS |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Morris |first=J.D. |title=PG&E bankruptcy: 2017 Tubbs Fire becomes central issue |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/PG-E-bankruptcy-Santa-Rosa-wildfire-becomes-14305327.php?psid=hOl5s |newspaper=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815162952/https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/PG-E-bankruptcy-Santa-Rosa-wildfire-becomes-14305327.php%3Fpsid%3DhOl5s |url-status=live }} On August 16, 2019, the judge ruled that the trial can proceed "on a parallel track" because "it advances the goals of this bankruptcy."{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Julie |title=Bankruptcy judge clears way for trial against PG&E on Tubbs fire |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9911377-181/bankruptcy-judge-clears-way-for?sba=AAS |newspaper=The Press Democrat |date=August 16, 2019 |access-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824122239/https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/9911377-181/bankruptcy-judge-clears-way-for%3Fsba%3DAAS |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Morris |first=J.D. |title=PG&E's role in the 2017 Tubbs Fire to go to jury trial |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/PG-E-s-role-in-the-2017-Tubbs-Fire-can-go-to-14339267.php |newspaper=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=August 16, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822171416/https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/PG-E-s-role-in-the-2017-Tubbs-Fire-can-go-to-14339267.php |url-status=live }}{{Cite Q|Q114357413|access-date=2022-10-02}} By November 2019, this trial was scheduled to begin January 7, 2020 in San Francisco.{{cite news |last1=Brickley |first1=Peg |last2=Morgenson |first2=Gretchen |title=PG&E Bankruptcy Protections Could Mean Less Money for Wildfire Victims |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/pg-e-bankruptcy-protections-could-mean-less-money-for-wildfire-victims-11573252033 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=November 8, 2019 |quote=Chapter 11 rules give the giant California utility what amounts to a lid on compensation |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622003228/https://www.wsj.com/articles/pg-e-bankruptcy-protections-could-mean-less-money-for-wildfire-victims-11573252033 |url-status=live }} PG&E needed to get its bankruptcy plan approved by June 30, 2020 to be included in the fund for fire costs created by the new state law AB 1054.{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=J.D. |last2=Gardiner |first2=Dustin |title=Newsom authorizes $21 billion fund to protect utilities from fire costs |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Newsom-authorizes-21-billion-fund-to-protect-14091454.php?psid=hOl5s |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=July 12, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822171413/https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Newsom-authorizes-21-billion-fund-to-protect-14091454.php%3Fpsid%3DhOl5s |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Nikolewski |first=Rob |title=California regulators approve funding for controversial wildfire law |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2019-10-24/california-regulators-approve-funding-for-controversial-wildfire-law |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=October 24, 2019 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724133625/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2019-10-24/california-regulators-approve-funding-for-controversial-wildfire-law |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Gonzales |first=Richard |title=Calif. Governor Seeks To 'Jumpstart' PG&E Bankruptcy Talks; Threatens State Takeover |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/11/01/775621356/calif-governor-seeks-to-jumpstart-pg-e-bankruptcy-talks-threatens-state-takeover |website=npr.org |date=November 1, 2019 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806085413/https://www.npr.org/2019/11/01/775621356/calif-governor-seeks-to-jumpstart-pg-e-bankruptcy-talks-threatens-state-takeover |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Guiney |first1=Brian P. |last2=Kim |first2=Sichan |title=PG&E's $58B Bankruptcy Plan Moves Closer to Approval |url=https://www.pbwt.com/bankruptcy-update-blog/pges-58b-bankruptcy-plan-moves-closer-to-approval/ |newspaper=Patterson Belknap |date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=July 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707044133/https://www.pbwt.com/bankruptcy-update-blog/pges-58b-bankruptcy-plan-moves-closer-to-approval/ |url-status=live }} After the judge's ruling, the company's stock price sank by 25%.{{cite news |last=Morris |first=J.D. |title=PG&E shares plunge 25% after judge allows Tubbs Fire trial |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/PG-E-shares-plunge-27-after-judge-allows-Tubbs-14348295.php |newspaper=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822200258/https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/PG-E-shares-plunge-27-after-judge-allows-Tubbs-14348295.php |url-status=live }}
On December 6, 2019, in an effort to avert the trial, PG&E proposed to settle the wildfire victim claims for a total of $13.5 billion, which would cover liability for its responsibility originating from the Camp Fire, Butte Fire, and also a series of wildfires beginning on October 8, 2017, collectively called the 2017 North Bay Fires.{{cite news |last=Gonzales |first=Richard |title=PG&E Announces $13.5 Billion Settlement Of Claims Linked To California Wildfires |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/07/785775074/pg-e-announces-13-5-billion-settlement-of-claims-linked-to-california-wildfires |newspaper=National Public Radio |date=December 7, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207155313/https://www.npr.org/2019/12/07/785775074/pg-e-announces-13-5-billion-settlement-of-claims-linked-to-california-wildfires |url-status=live }} (The Tubbs Fire is considered to be one of the 2017 North Bay Fires.{{cite web |title=Fire Victim Trust - Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.firevictimtrust.com/Docs/FAQs.pdf |website=firevictimtrust.com |date=August 17, 2020 |access-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911005844/https://www.firevictimtrust.com/Docs/FAQs.pdf |url-status=live }}) The offer was tendered as part of PG&E's plan to exit bankruptcy.{{cite news |last=Acharya |first=Bhargav |title=Bankrupt PG&E reaches $13.5 billion settlement with California wildfire victims |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-wildfire-pg-e-us/bankrupt-pge-reaches-135-billion-settlement-with-california-wildfire-victims-idUSKBN1YB03M |newspaper=Reuters |date=December 6, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627002535/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-wildfire-pg-e-us/bankrupt-pge-reaches-135-billion-settlement-with-california-wildfire-victims-idUSKBN1YB03M |url-status=live }} The court case was superseded by the PG&E Restructuring Support Agreement (RSA) of December 9, 2019{{cite web |title=RESTRUCTURING SUPPORT AGREEMENT |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/75488/000095015719001393/ex10-1.htm |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |date=December 9, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=June 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629205854/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/75488/000095015719001393/ex10-1.htm |url-status=live }} and by the bankruptcy reorganization plan, wherein PG&E agreed to settle claims from the Tubbs Fire.{{cite web |author=PG&E |title=Disclosure Statement to the Plan |url=https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/pge/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=MzM5MzQx&id2=0 |website=Prime Clerk |date=March 17, 2020 |pages=9, 159 |format=PDF download |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422060248/https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/pge/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=MzM5MzQx&id2=0 |url-status=live }} On July 1, 2020, the PG&E Fire Victim Trust (FVT) was established as part of the reorganization plan{{cite web |author=PG&E |title=Disclosure Statement to the Plan |url=https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/pge/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=MzM5MzQx&id2=0 |website=Prime Clerk |date=March 17, 2020 |pages=24–29 |format=PDF download |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422060248/https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/pge/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=MzM5MzQx&id2=0 |url-status=live }} of the 2019 bankruptcy of PG&E to administer the claims of the wildfire victims.{{cite news |title=PG&E Fire Victim Trust Begins Accepting Online Claims From California Wildfire Victims |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200821005088/en/ |newspaper=businesswire |date=August 21, 2020 |access-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-date=September 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911012750/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200821005088/en/ |url-status=live }} Also on July 1, PG&E funded the Fire Victim Trust (FVT) with $5.4 billion in cash and 22.19% of stock in the reorganized PG&E, which covers most of the obligations of its settlement for the wildfire victims.{{cite news |last=Penn |first=Ivan |title=PG&E, Troubled California Utility, Emerges From Bankruptcy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/business/energy-environment/pge-bankruptcy-ends.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720231835/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/business/energy-environment/pge-bankruptcy-ends.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Iovino |first=Nicholas |title=PG&E Emerges From Chapter 11 Bankruptcy |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/pge-emerges-from-chapter-11-bankruptcy/ |newspaper=Courthouse News Service |date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720201803/https://www.courthousenews.com/pge-emerges-from-chapter-11-bankruptcy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Fire Victim Trust Funded July 1st |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fire-victim-trust-funded-july-1st-301087017.html |newspaper=PR Newswire |date=July 1, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720184955/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fire-victim-trust-funded-july-1st-301087017.html |url-status=live }} As of June 2020, PG&E had two more payments totaling $1.35 billion in cash scheduled to be paid in January 2021 and January 2022, to complete its obligations to the wildfire victims.{{cite news |last=Iovino |first=Nicholas |title=PG&E Boosts Stock for Fire Victims in Bankruptcy Case |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/pge-boosts-stock-for-fire-victims-in-bankruptcy-case/ |newspaper=Courthouse News Service |date=June 12, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628174915/https://www.courthousenews.com/pge-boosts-stock-for-fire-victims-in-bankruptcy-case/ |url-status=live }}
In October 2020, on the third anniversary of the Tubbs Fire, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that as part of a separate $1 billion settlement with local governments, Sonoma County had received almost $150 million from PG&E and the city of Santa Rosa city had received $95 million, with officials "facing tough decisions about how to spend all the money." By that time, around 2,100 homes had been rebuilt, with more in progress.
See also
{{Portal|California}}
- 2017 California wildfires
- Atlas Fire
- Cedar Fire (2003)
- Joe Rodota Trail homeless encampment following the Tubbs Fire{{cite web |url=https://fox40.com/2018/10/09/how-the-tubbs-fire-affected-santa-rosas-homeless-population/ |title=How the Tubbs Fire Affected Santa Rosa's Homeless Population |last=Johnson |first=Doug |date=October 10, 2018 |publisher=FOX40 |access-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114015233/https://fox40.com/2018/10/09/how-the-tubbs-fire-affected-santa-rosas-homeless-population/ |url-status=live }}
- List of California wildfires
- Thomas Fire
- Witch Fire
Explanatory notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Tubbs Fire}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20171010004911/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1867 CAL FIRE Incident Information]
- [https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/ NASA Worldview], moderate-resolution satellite image interface
- [https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ USGS Earth Explorer], Landsat image interface
{{California wildfires}}
{{California wildfires by deaths}}
Category:2017 California wildfires
Category:History of Santa Rosa, California
Category:October 2017 in the United States