Sonoma County Fair beefs up security plans following Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting

The shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival has forced law enforcement and those in charge of putting on other major events in the Bay Area to take another look at their security procedures.

On Thursday the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa opens. It is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people over 11 days.

While work crews were busy setting up at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, those in charge of security at the fair met again Tuesday to further discuss plans.

The shooting deaths of three people at the Gilroy festival has caused Santa Rosa police to take another look at the fair's security plan.

"The very next day we started having conversations to make sure we address those concerns," said Lt. Rob Nelson of the Santa Rosa Police Department.

The biggest change will be beefing up security around the perimeter of the fairgrounds.

That's because authorities in Gilroy say the gunman cut a hole in a perimeter fence there.

"We are going to modify our operational plan to make sure we pay attention to the perimeter," said Nelson.

Security planning began long before Gilroy.

"It is disappointing and so tragic," said fair CEO Becky Bartling about Gilroy.

"That's why we put so much time and money into security protocols so people feel safer."

Police say they will be visible throughout the fairgrounds, all having undergone active shooter training.

Private security will also be on the grounds 24 hours a day.

Santa Rosa firefighters and paramedics changed its protocols after the Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017.

But this year more firefighters will be present, and they will have medical kits scattered around the fairgrounds to treat potential gunshot victims.

"Tourniquets, bandages. If there are multiple injuries we can triage the level of injuries," said Santa Rosa Assistant Fire Marshall Paul Lowenthal.

But for concessionaires and vendors who will be at the fair every day.

No one we met seemed concerned.

"This is just a public place with an event. The mall is a public place that has events," said vendor Tara Nunley.

One mother of five, who we found in line buying tickets said Gilroy has not forced her to re-consider going.

"You have to live your life and trust everything will be okay. I'm her buying tickets so I'm not that concerned I guess," said Kimberly Graves.