Forest fires in California force evacuations, concern in wine-growing region
Forest fires destroy nearly 7,000 hectares of land in California
Wildfires continue to rage in both northern and southern California as the weather remains windy and dry.
Several wildfires in California are devastating several areas, forcing thousands to evacuate and threatening the state’s world-famous vineyards.
But on Tuesday, firefighters reported that there had been only minimal injuries so far. And winegrowers in Northern California are breathing a sigh of relief after one of the wildfires was 40 percent contained and apparently missed the region’s well-known wine-growing areas.
The blaze, known locally as the Point Fire, started Sunday and sent wineries and residents in famed Healdsburg, Calif., into turmoil during Father’s Day, said Lauren Fremont, executive director of Winegrowers of the Dry Creek Valley. But as of Tuesday, no wineries had sustained significant damage and it felt like a “best-case scenario,” she told USA TODAY.
“We were really lucky and were largely spared,” Fremont said.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the fire destroyed two buildings and left one person injured. As of Tuesday, firefighters had contained the fire by 40 percent.
Elsewhere in California, firefighters are battling numerous other wildfires, including a massive fire outside Los Angeles that forced more than 1,000 people to evacuate.
The Sonoma-area fire was the latest of several over the past seven years that have directly threatened the wine region. Weather and climate conditions mean the fires are likely to continue, said Corey Manning, who owns a winery a quarter-mile from the latest blaze.
“It’s kind of a recurring trauma,” Manning said, explaining how many winery owners, employees and first responders in the area come together to provide post-traumatic therapy through a music therapy program founded by Rick Allen, drummer for the rock band Def Leppard.
Strong winds and dry conditions sparked fires in Southern California on Tuesday, and in New Mexico, firefighters struggled to contain wildfires outside the small town of Ruidoso. Hundreds of buildings in the area were damaged by fire.
Fires in wine-growing regions affect winemakers
The Dry Creek Valley in California’s Sonoma County is known for its Zinfandel grapes, some of which grow on vines that are more than 100 years old, Fremont said. The area also produces exceptional Sauvignon Blanc and more than 30 other wine varieties, she said.
Manning’s winery, Chateau Diana, is known for its Chardonnay and Cabaret Sauvignon, he said.
“There is a lot at stake. There is a possibility that we could lose our home again,” said Manning, who lost his Santa Rosa home in a fire in 2017.
But people are more prepared and aware of the reality than ever before, he said. More growers are also planting grapes that can be harvested earlier in the season, before October, which is historically when the worst wildfires can start, he said. This year, Chateau Diana planted Sauvignon Blanc grapes to be harvested in early September because they “wanted to get it done before fire season starts.”
“As we have more and more fires, people are rethinking what grapes they’re going to plant in the future,” Manning said. “It has long-term implications for the decisions people make about their plantings.”
A winery on the mountain side of the Dry Creek Valley had minimal impact on grapes, Fremont said, but it was only a very small section of vine that burned. The fact that it is so early in the season and the grapes are still young, green and hard has helped spare the wineries from potentially worse damage, she said.
Wineries will escape unscathed until Tuesday
Overall, thanks to the rescue workers and the whims of Mother Nature, a possible catastrophe was averted during the night from Sunday to Monday, said Fremont.
The wind shifted Sunday night, she said, and firefighters were able to quickly tackle the fire and prevent it from reaching the wineries. In a worst-case scenario, an entire grape harvest – called a vintage – could be destroyed by fire, or the smoke could affect the flavor of the grapes and cause the wine produced to have what is known as a smoke flavor, Fremont said.
This was prevented, she said, adding that the quick and heroic efforts of first responders saved the entire Dry Creek Valley from what could easily have become a larger crisis.
Manning agreed: “They are there for us on our worst days,” he said, referring to firefighters and other responders.
One firefighter was injured Monday as emergency crews continued to contain the fire. The blaze, which is burning across about 480 acres, was 40 percent contained by Tuesday, according to Cal Fire.
2 fires converge on Ruidoso
Two wildfires that broke out earlier this week on either side of Ruidoso, New Mexico, are approaching the village on tribal land in southern New Mexico, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.
The fires are like a “pincer,” George Ducker, spokesman for New Mexico’s forestry department, told CNN this week.
By early Monday evening, the flames had damaged several buildings, the New Mexico Forestry Division said, but how many there were is still unknown.
The village of Ruidoso is asking residents to leave the village immediately.
“Please do not attempt to gather your valuables or protect your home – LEAVE IMMEDIATELY,” said a post from the Ruidoso community on X early Tuesday morning.
Forest fire near Los Angeles destroys 6,000 hectares of land
The Post Fire outside Los Angeles is the largest active wildfire in California, burning an estimated 15,600 acres, according to Cal Fire. The next largest fire in California is burning 10,000 acres in Colusa County.
The fire, which is raging in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, is difficult to control because it is burning in steep, hard-to-reach areas, Cal Fire said. Weather conditions also made it difficult to contain the fire, officials said.
Officials warned that the wind would create heavy smoke that could impair drivers’ visibility on Interstate 5. In addition, important infrastructure such as power lines, dams and oil pipelines were at risk from the wildfires.
Contributors: Anthony Robledo, Julia Gomez
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