'It looks like Armageddon:' Multiple fires raging in Wine Country

KTVU Staff - Multiple fires were scorching the ground and causing smoke to billow across the Bay Area on Monday morning; by 3 a.m. the National Weather Service had tracked at least six fires in the North Bay and a new fire just east of Cloverdale. 

The biggest fires being battled were in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties.

LIST OF EVACUATIONS, ROAD AND SCHOOL CLOSURES

The Tubbs Fire between Santa Rosa and Calistoga alone grew from 200 acres to 20,000 acres by Monday morning, a CalFire Battalion Chief Jonathan Cox told KTVU on Monday. "This fire exploded." Cox said he has heard of injuries, too, but could not be specific about the extent.

In Napa, the Atlas Fire south of Lake Beryessa had burned at least 5,000 acres by Monday morning. In Lake County, the Ridge Fire was 75 percent contained as of Monday, CalFire said. 

There were other fires being battled in Mendocino, Humboldt and other counties, including the Redwood Fire north of Highway 20 west of the Mendocino National Forest, which had burned 4,500 acres as of Monday morning.

Strong and gusty winds fanned the flames and smoke as far south as San Mateo County, where residents woke up to the strong smell. In Piedmont, Erin Ashton said her fire alarm went off because of the smoke.

Evacuations were ordered and all schools in Santa Rosa, Windsor and Napa Valley were closed, as were many roads. Sonoma State University was also closed on Monday.

In Napa, 350 people showed up at the Crosswalk Community Church, and the Napa Junior college was turned into an evacuation center.

“My daughter called at 1 a.m. and said, 'Prepare to evacuate,'" said Carolyn Spence. "At 3 a.m., the sheriff knocked on our door.”

The biggest fire broke out at 9:50 p.m. Sunday off Atlas Peak Road south of Lake Berryessa, Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean said.

"Very, very volatile fire conditions," McLean said. "People need to be careful."

As of Monday morning evacuations were ordered for these areas:

Marin County: Evacuations now for Golf Course and Snyder and Synder and Holly of Rohnert Park. All Rohnert Park evacuations centers are now closed.

Napa County: Voluntary evacuations for West of Tubbs Lane, Calistoga to shelter in place or go the Napa County Fairgrounds for emergency shelter. Montecito area evacuated. Crosswalk Church is full. New Evacuation Center at the Napa Valley College Gym.

Mandatory evacuation of Circle Oaks West to Atlas Peak. Evacuate to the east and shelter at Calistoga Fairgrounds.

Lake County: Sulpher Bank road and North West Clearlake area. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for residents in the area of Sulpher Bank Road, North Drive, Lakeshore Drive from San Joaquin west to Windflower Point

Sonoma County: Two evacuation centers are open in the city of Sebastopol at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center 390 Morris Street and another at the Veterans' Memorial Building at 282 South High Street.

There are mandatory evacuations for Santa Rosa area east of Fulton Road between Guerneville Road and River Road. The nearest shelter is the Santa Rosa Vets Memorial Building at 1351 Maple Ave. Large animals can be taken to the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds at 1350 Bennett Valley Road.

Patients from Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health hospitals on Monday were evacuated from Santa Rosa and taken to other nearby hospitals or make-shift hospitals. 

The Sonoma Valley High School has been designated as the evacuation center for Sonoma Valley residents affected by fire. Significant fire activity in Kenwood, Glen Ellen, and Schellville areas. Be alert for debris in the roadway and downed power lines. 

Roads were closed as well including Highway 37 from US Highway 101 to Interstate 80, as well as portions of Highway 12, 29 and 121.