Sonoma County Fires: Death Toll Rises to 23

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- The Sonoma County wildfire death toll rose to 23 Wednesday morning after one more person was confirmed dead. The death, which was announced by the Sheriff's Department, comes 10 days after wildfires first scorched through Northern California, burning more than 103,000 acres.

As of Wednesday morning, the Tubbs Fire was 91 percent contained. The Pocket Fire is 63 percent while the Nuns Fire is 80 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

"We have stopped the forward progress and movement of these fires," said Cal Fire Deputy Chief Bret Gouvea of the Central LNU Complex fires in Sonoma County. "We have lines around them."

Also See: California Wildfire Victims Seek Help After Losing Homes

The fires, which are expected to be contained by Friday, destroyed more than 5,000 structures and damaged 264 others.

Evacuations are still underway for the following areas:

• Western Mine Road and Ida Clayton
• Highway 218 at the Intersection of Road 93/North on Highway 128
• North of East Napa Street from 4th Street
• Highway 128 south from River Road to Geysers Road

Repopulation of previously evacuated areas continues, with more than 6,000 evacuees in the last 24 hours allowed to return to homes that are stilling standing, Gouvea said in a briefing Wednesday. Overall, more than 42,000 evacuees have returned to more than 7,000 homes spared from the fires, he said.

The city of Santa Rosa and county of Sonoma urge residents to use caution when returning to their homes stating, "Improper handling and disposal of hazardous ash and materials can impact property owners, children and the general public, and unauthorized removal of debris and ash may jeopardize the ability of property owners to obtain financial assistance from FEMA."

Two more of the victims who died in Sonoma County were identified Wednesday as Monte Neil Kirven, 81, and Marilyn Carol Ress, 71.

Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano said there are 250 search and rescue crews still in the area, and said that he viewed the fire devastation during a flyover recently and thinks it will take months and years for the
county to recover.

Fifty people are still missing, 25 in Santa Rosa and 25 in unincorporated Sonoma County, Giordano said.

California Highway Patrol Officer Jon Sloat said the Mendocino Avenue off-ramp on northbound U.S. Highway 101 and the Hopper Avenue off-ramp on southbound Highway 101 are closed.

Bay City News Service and Patch editor Maggie Avants contributed to this report.

Photo by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com