After more than a week of evacuations, some Solano County residents may move back home

Vacaville wildfire evacuees return to learn fate of their homes

Tom Vacar reports.

VACAVILLE, Calif. - After 12 days of wildfires raging near their neighborhoods and schools, some evacuated Solano County residents were allowed to return home as the LNU Lightning Complex Fire is 35% contained, officials said on Thursday.

“Our goal is to get everyone back to their homes and property in a safe and orderly manner,” Tom Ferrara, Solano County Sheriff said in a statement. “We understand there may be hiccups along the way – and we want to make things as smooth as possible for everyone involved – and we greatly appreciate your patience.”

Once the evacuation orders were lifted and replaced with warnings, Solano County residents were able to start returning home.

VACAVILLE, CA - AUGUST 24: Ken Albers, 72, takes a break from sifting through the charred remains of his destroyed vintage cars after the LNU Lightning Complex fire tore through the area on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020 in Vacaville, California. The fire is

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Some returned to find their homes still standing and others came home to rubble and remnants of what used to be.

Stephanie Mannel of Vacaville said she had only minutes to evacuate as the LNU firestorm swept the region destroying one in five residences in the area.

"My home was spared. I feel so bad because there are so many, so many people out that lost their homes" she said.

Officials said homeowners must show proof of residency and get a pass from the sheriff's office in order to get into their neighborhoods.

California's two largest fires are nearly neck-and-neck in size

"What we're asking for them to do is come here and check-in and we're updating contract info. Some of these people have lost their homes and we want to be able to get a hold of them for a variety of reasons," said Solano County Deputy Sheriff Captain Denton Autry.

Though Mannel's home survived the firestorm, she found it hard to believe as she drove into her rural, scorched community.

"When I came up here and I saw everything burned, I thought, 'I'm so lucky to be alive' because I could have been killed,'" she said. "It came that fast we had no time."

Before the LNU Complex Fire, Mannel ran into some unexpected money that she used brilliantly.

"When I got that stimulus check, I said. 'You know what? I'm gonna make my landscaping easy.' I got bark. I got pea gravel. I was like, 'I'm going to get rid of all of these plants,'" she recounted. Like the other residences that survived in the area, Mannel's home is the textbook definition of defensible space. And only because it had defensible space, it survived.

Some evacuees allowed to reenter fire zones

For thousands of people in fire's path, Tuesday was a day of re-entry and relief as so many dodged disaster in the LNU complex wildfires ignited by a freak lightning storm.

But even defensible space is no guarantee of success as the Stalker family sadly found out.

"My wife had a list of stuff in case anything like this happened. So we were prepared to get stuff that we thought was very important," said Don Stalker.

But with insurance, they can rebuild; something they are mulling over.

"We're trying to decide. He wants to rebuild. I'm a little more afraid of the fire," said his wife Deanna Stalker.

The first phase of repopulation included the areas west of Interstate 80 from Lyon Road to Vaca Valley Road. Gates Canyon Road remained closed. As of Thursday morning, residents were already moving back into their homes.

Evacuation orders were also downgraded to warnings in Napa County while an evacuation warning was lifted in Lake County. The reduced level of threat in Napa County affects Deer Park, Glass Mountain, Crystal Springs and St. Helena hospital. All other order remain in effect, Cal Fire said.

The LNU Lightning Complex, which is made up of several wildfires, grew to 369,935 acres as of Thursday evening.

Because of road damage, falling trees and ongoing utility work, the following roads will remain closed until further notice, including, Gates Canyon Road, Mix Canyon Road, Blue Ridge Road, Cantelow Road from Pleasants Valley Road to English Hills Road and Pleasants Valley Road from Shale Peak Lane to Quail Canyon Road.

EAST ZONE (NAPA COUNTY) EVACUATION AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION

Evacuation Order:

Napa County:

OES Info: https://www.countyofnapa.org/353/Emergency-Services

Evac Info: https://www.countyofnapa.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=182

Napa County Information Line: (707) 253-4540

https://www.countyofnapa.org/2966/19746/LNU-Wildfires

Highway 128 between Monticello Dam and Moskowite Corners (SR128/121 intersection)

Wragg Canyon
Markley Cove
Pleasure Cove

Highway 121 (Monticello Rd) Between Moskowite Corners(SR128/121 intersection) and Longhorn Ridge Road

Highway 128 (Capell Valley Road/Sage Canyon Rd) from Chiles Pope Valley Road to Hwy 121 (Monticello Road)

Steel Canyon Road
Community of Berryessa Highlands
Chiles and Lower Chiles Pope Valley Roads

Berryessa-Knoxville Road from Hwy 128 (at Turtle Rock) to Lake County Line

Community at Spanish Flat Loop Road
Community of Berryessa Pines
Both sides, including resorts and recreational areas of Lake Berryessa, Knoxville

Atlas Peak Road from 3683 Atlas Peak Road (Circle R Ranch) to the dead end

Deer Park Road from Silverado Trail, east to Howell Mountain Road

Community of Deer Park
St. Helena Hospital

Howell Mountain Road, east to Pope Valley

Community of Angwin
Pacific Union College

All of Pope Valley Road and connecting roads

Pope Valley Cross
Hardin
Aetna Springs Road
James Creek Road

All of Butts Canyon Road and connecting Roads in Napa County of Napa

Snell Valley Road
Stagecoach Road
Community of Berryessa Estates
Crystal Springs Road
Glass Mountain Road

Properties on the east side of Highway 29 between Silverado Trail and Lake County line

Old Lawley Toll Road
Palisades Road

Evacuation Warning:

Silverado Trail south from Rosedale Road to Highway 128 (Sage Canyon Road) to include the areas of Fawn Park, Madrone Knolls, Meadowood, Howell Mountain Road including roads off of Howell Mountain Road up to and including Conn Valley Road, Taplin Road, Rutherford Hill Road, and Long Ranch Road. (Crystal Springs Road and Glass Mountain Road are still under an Evacuation Order)

Highway 128 (Sage Canyon Road) will be placed under the Evacuation Warning up to Chiles Pope Valley Road.

Soda Canyon from Loma Vista to 3700 Soda Canyon Road (Dead End)

Atlas Peak from 2462 Atlas Peak Road (Bubbling Wells Pet Cemetery) to 3683 Atlas Peak Road.

Highway 121 (Monticello Road) to Longhorn Ridge Road, to include the Circle Oaks sub-division, along with the communities of Wooden Valley and Gordon Valley to the Napa/Solano County line This will include Wooden Valley Road, Wooden Valley Cross Road, Gordon Valley Road, and all connecting roads.

EAST ZONE Napa County Evacuation Center:

Crosswalk Community Church

2590 First Street

Napa, CA 94558

EAST ZONE Napa County Road Closures:

SR-121 at Circle Oaks – closed East bound

SR-128 at Napa/Solano County Line - No traffic West bound

Butts Canyon Rd at Guenoc

SR-128 at Silverado Trail.

Atlas Peak Rd at Circle R Ranch

Howell Mountain Road

Deer Park is closed at Silverado Trail

Glass Mountain Road and Silverado Trail

Crystal Springs at Silverado Trail

EAST ZONE Napa County Animal Evacuation Center:

Napa County Animal Shelter: 942 Hartle Court, Napa, CA 94559

Valley Brook Equestrian Center: 1132 El Centro Ave. Napa 55 horses

Napa Valley Horseman's Association: 1200 Foster Road Napa 61 horses

Ag 4 Youth 1200 Foster Rd, Napa 62 Ruminants

EAST ZONE (LAKE COUNTY) EVACUATION AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION

Lake County:

https://www.facebook.com/lakesheriff/

Evacuation Map: HERE

OES Contact:

(707) 262-4090

https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736729003#/signup

Evacuation Orders:

Hidden Valley Lake / Jerusalem Valley Areas

North of Butts Canyon
South of Hofacker Ln. to Morgan Valley Rd.
East of Hwy 29
West of Lake / Napa County line

East of Middletown Area

East of Hwy 29
North of Lake / Napa County line up to the intersection of Hey. 29 and St. Helena Creek (Across from Twin Pine Casino)
St. Helena Creek Rd
South of Butts Canyon Rd.

Lower Lake Area (South)

East of Hwy. 29
South of Morgan Valley Rd.
West of Lake / Napa County line
North of Hofacker Ln. extending east to Morgan Valley Rd. Lower Lake Area (North)
North of Morgan Valley Rd.
East of Sky High Ridge Rd. extending north to Hwy. 20
South of Hwy. 20
West of Lake / Napa / Colusa County lines

Evacuation Warnings:

Deer Park Road from the upper end, Sanitarium Road to the intersection of Deer Park Road, Howell Mountain Road and White Cottage Road.

Howell Mountain Road (AKA Old Howell Mountain Rd.) from Conn Valley Rd. to the intersection of Howell Mountain Road, Deer Park Rd. and White Cottage Rd.

Middletown Area

West of Hwy. 29
North and East of Lake / Napa
South of Anderson Springs Rd. / Neft Rd. / Boggs Mt. Rec. Area extending northeast to Hwy. 29 / Hofacker Ln.

Lower Lake Area

East of Big Canyon Rd. / Perini Rd. / Seigler Canyon Rd.
South and west of Hwy. 29
North of the previous evacuation order / warning line of Anderson Springs Rd. / Neft Rd. / Boggs Mt. Rec. Area extending northeast to Hwy. 29 / Hofacker Ln.

East Lake County Area

East of Old Long Valley Rd. / New Long Valley Rd, extending north to the Lake / Colusa County Line
North of Highway 20
South and West of Lake / Colusa County line

EAST ZONE Lake County Evacuation Center(s) and/or Temporary Evacuation Point(s):

Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP): Kelseyville High School parking lot 5480 Main Street Kelseyville, CA

Lower Lake

Morgan Valley Road EB @ Sky High Ridge Rd
Spruce Grove Road (North) EB @ SR 29
Clayton Creek Road EB @ SR 29
Hofacker Lane EB @ SR 29
Lake Ridge Road NB @ Morgan Valley Rd
A Street EB @ SR 29

Hidden Valley Lake

Spruce Grove Road (South) EB @ SR 29
Hartman Road EB @ SR 29
Grange Road EB @ SR 29

Middletown

Butts Canyon Road EB @ SR 29

EAST ZONE (YOLO COUNTY) EVACUATION AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION

Evacuation Order

Zone 1

Zone 2

Evacuation Warning

Zone 3

EAST ZONE (SOLANO COUNTY) EVACUATION AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION

All areas within Solano County, West of the Napa County Line, South of the Yolo County Line within the burn area is still under an Evacuation Order.

Foothill Road westbound @ Auburn Way

Cherry Glen Road westbound @ Lyon Road

Lyon Road southbound @ Cherry Glen

Pleasants Valley Road southbound @ SR-128

Pleasants Valley Road northbound @ Cherry Glenn Rd

Lyon Road northbound @ Rollingwood Dr

Gibson Canyon Road southbound @ Cantelow Rd

Cantelow Rd westbound @ Gibson Canyon Rd

Gibson Canyon Road N northbound @ Solar Hills Drive

Putah Creek Rd westbound @ 3851 Putah Creek Road

Peaceful Glen Rd westbound @ Olivas Lane

Vaca Valley Rd E westbound @ Bucktown Lane

Bucktown Lane northbound @ Vaca Valley Rd E

WEST ZONE (SONOMA COUNTY) EVACUATION & ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION

Sonoma County:

socoemergency.org

Residents and visitors can dial 2-1-1

You can also view an interactive evacuation map here

Livestock 707-234-7193.

Evacuation Order:

Evacuation Zone - 1B3

East of McCray Ridge Road and Pool Ridge
North of Old Cazadero Road
West of King Ridge Road
South Skaggs Springs Road

Evacuation Zone - 1D5

East of Armstrong Woods Road
North of the Russian River
West of Westside Road
South of Sweetwater Springs Road

Evacuation Zone - 2A3

North of Stewarts Point Skaggs Springs Road to the eastern edge of Lake Sonoma
Everything west of the eastern edge of Lake Sonoma to the western boundary that runs north along the ridge line from the intersection of Stewarts Point Skaggs Springs Rd @ Old Stewarts Point Skaggs Springs Road to the interception of Rockpile Road @ Cooley Ranch Road north to the Mendocino County Line.

Evacuation Zone - 2E1