More Coverage: Read our examination of the factors that made the fires so destructive and our analysis, which found that at least 1,800 buildings were destroyed in Santa Rosa.
Before
After
Fires destroyed an area of the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa, Calif. Before: Google Earth; After: California Highway Patrol, via Reuters
Hundreds of firefighters have been trying to contain blazes across Northern California’s wine country since Sunday night in what officials said was one of the most destructive fire emergencies in the state’s history.
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Calistoga
CALIFORNIA
Evacuation
areas as of
Thursday afternoon
St. Helena
Santa
Rosa
Extent of fires,
as of Thursday
Napa
Sonoma
Petaluma
Pacific
Ocean
Novato
San Pablo
Bay
Area of
detail
Oakland
CALIFORNIA
San Francisco
25 MILES
Sources: NASA MODIS, Santa Rosa Fire Department
In Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County, hundreds of homes and businesses were destroyed. In the Coffey Park neighborhood, bare trees dotted the landscape where dozens of homes had been reduced to ash and rubble. Multiple evacuation orders were issued in the city after fires first broke out on Sunday.
Destruction in Coffey Park. Jim Wilson/The New York Times
Smoke and fire engulfed both sides of Fountaingrove Parkway in Santa Rosa. Fires also raged further east through the heart of Sonoma and Napa wine country, damaging thousands of buildings and establishments, including multiple vineyards, wineries and at least one dairy.
Before
After
Smoke rising behind homes in Santa Rosa. Before: Google Earth; After: California Highway Patrol, via Reuters
Before
After
A pool in front of the fire-ravaged Signorello Estate winery in Napa, Calif. Before: James Gateley; After: Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press
Before
After
The remains of the fire-damaged Signorello Estate winery. Before: James Gateley; After: Jim Wilson/The New York Times
Before
After
Damaged buildings at Stornetta Dairy in Sonoma, Calif. Before: Google Street View; After: Stephen Lam/Reuters
The fires, which began Sunday night, appeared to catch residents off guard, with some fleeing on foot.
Counties with
declared states
of emergency
Fires on Monday
Santa
Rosa
San
Francisco
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles
Sources: NASA MODIS, Office of the Governor
About 140,000 acres had burned by Wednesday afternoon, destroying thousands of structures and forcing the evacuation of more than 20,000 people, officials said.
Smoke from a wildfire burning east of Napa, Calif. Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle, via Associated Press
At least 21 people had been killed as of Wednesday afternoon. Eleven deaths were in Sonoma County, while six people died in Mendocino County, two in Napa County, and two in Yuba County.
A firefighter hosing down a home in Coffey Park. Kent Porter/The Press Democrat, via Associated Press
About two miles northeast of Coffey Park, dozens of homes were destroyed in the Fountaingrove area of Santa Rosa. At least some of the buildings of the Fountaingrove Inn and the Santa Rosa Hilton, shown below, were burned to the ground.
Before
After
Buildings were destroyed in the Fountaingrove area of Santa Rosa. Before: Google Street View; After: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
While the cause of the fires remained under investigation on Monday, officials said that the blazes spread rapidly because of wind gusts of over 50 miles per hour. Dry vegetation and low humidity contributed to the intensity of the fires.
Before
After
The Fountaingrove Round Barn, a local landmark built in 1899, was burned to the ground. Before: Google Street View; After: Kent Porter/The Press Democrat, via Associated Press