‘Entire Neighborhoods’ in Santa Rosa Leveled by Wildfires, 150+ Missing

More than 150 people have been reported missing in the 15 wildfires ravaging Northern California, in the hours after much of the city of Santa Rosa was reduced to ash and rubble on Monday, as fire leveled entire neighborhoods. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post Tuesday, on the missing persons: “We are confident that many of these people will be found safe and reunited with loved ones, but unfortunately we are preparing for further fatalities.” Officials also said on Tuesday that upward of 100,000 acres were scorched so far by the blazes. The fires have already killed at least 15 people and wounded at least 100 more. Blazes have swept across the heart of state’s prized Wine Country, hitting several counties, including Napa and Sonoma, and destroying at least 1,500 homes and businesses. Some 20,000 people were forced to evacuate, including crowded local hospitals. California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Monday. In Santa Rosa, a city of 175,000, fires flattened landmark buildings, including several hotels full of tourists drawn to the region’s renowned vineyards.