TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Has anyone heard from Manpot? Fires in Sonoma

Terrible news out of northern California. Wildfires raging in Napa and Sonoma with hundreds (maybe 1,000s by now) being evacuated out of the area.

Hoping he and his wife are safe and their California home spared.

Karen

I got an email this morning - they were evacuated early this morning! Keep them in your thoughts! I'm sure he will be on here at some point.

We are sitting in world famous "Steiners" bar in Sonoma after being evacuated twice.Woke up at 1.30 to howling winds and our neighbour banging on the door. Made it back for ninety minutes and then were told to get out again. We could see the fire running over the ridge. The smoke is thick and fire seems to be all around..pretty scary. Still hoping to make it back to Tortola Wednesday evening. Thanks for thinking of us....

Omagosh you guys cannot catch a break!!! Be safe!! xoxoxxo

Wow, take care and stay safe!

Safe Travels Manpot! And Damn, you can't catch a break!

Wishing you all the best and safe travels to Tortola.

Mal... back to the gallows humour.....

We know where the fire is...
So - Tortola is the frypan ?

((sorry)) but I'm sure/hoping you can get a chuckle out of it

Thinking of you both. Stay safe!

OMG...you cannot catch a break!

Hang in there Mal, glad to hear you are OK.

Glad to hear you two are all safe. We did not have to evacuate from the house or winery but now that the wind has shifted we are in smoke and a 200 yard visibility. Calistoga also has some big losses but our grandkids friends in Santa Rosa have lost their homes. 11 so far confirmed but a few others unaccounted. I'll check on the rest of the family after you get off to the BVI.

Posted on BVI People - must have missed this - hang in there, Mal....thinking of you guys and praying...

Safe travels Mal... thinking of you guys and hope everything turns out well.

Mal,

Thinking of you and praying for the best. Your in our thoughts and prayers.

Mappy & Leo

Gary..we have been hoping and praying to him, her or them..that you are all OK. Back at Steiner's on The Plaza where they have power and WiFi. Still hoping to fly tomorrow night. Please stay safe my friend. If you do need to flee we seem to be safe in a triangle with around us of fire...serious offer if you need to flee..

Thinking of you and praying for the best.

Thoughts are with you and friends...

Thinking of you and Candace, Mal. Hope you are safe!!

Sending this again from Steiner's Saloon on Sonoma Plaza ..no power or Wi Fi at The Ranch. The Cal Fire spokesman just dubbed this " not a battle anymore..this is a war"..and the winds may pick up later. Hearing our Gary Warburton (CalSail) may be told to evacuate today. At the moment I am planning to fly down tonight but that may change..send good wishes our way..

Thanks for checking in!! Cannot believe you have to deal with this! One war zone to another.... Good luck though tonight, fingers crossed for you I know how much you want to get to the BVI and CRC, please keep us posted..ps. bring a camera <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> xoxoxox

Laura..sitting in Steiners wearing the shirt you sent yesterday..lifted our spirits BIG time..C loves hers. Just made the exec decision not to fly tonight and rebook for next week once this nightmare is past. Fifteen out of control fires all around, wind expected to pick up again..and Robin needs to worry about her Mum and not getting me to SFO and back..Love to all..

Best wishes, absolutely devastating to see the fires roaring:(

Keeping our fingers crossed, praying, whatever it takes! Thanks for the update Mal. Just heard from a cousin in the Sonoma area as well and they had to leave because the smoke was just to much to handle. Praying for Robin's Mum as well!
mappy

Rescheduled to fly down next Tuesday (17th) and will be on island 18th. Anyone around first cold ones will be on me..

Praying for you, Candace and all of the folks in the area. So very sad. Praying for a positive outcome. Stay safe.

Stay safe Mal. Things (and Ting's) can be replaced. Sending positive vibes your way. {{{{{{+vibes}}}}}}

Mal - never met you but see you here alot. Blessing to you and your wife for strength and your home in California to be spared.
My favorite vineyard is Cain up in the mountains. Hoping all the people there stay safe as well.

In our thoughts and prayers.

Steve

Thursday morning..back at Steiners on the Plaza. Very scary evac out of here yesterday afternoon with loud hailers.." Get out..the fire is coming". Well..it didnt and the winds stayed down overnight. Right now things look like they are slightly improving for us right close to town. Not sure if my firefighter cousin has lost his home which would be heartbreaking as he has been saving others. Still very smokey with a dark red sun..Thanks for for all your love and concern..

I can't even imagine how bad it is up there. I love in San Francisco and it smells like there is a campfire outside my front door. Cars are covered in ash and the sky is red.I have several friends that have lost their homes and many more that are still threatened. Stay tough out there!!

Take care over there Mal, we're watching closely from Sacramento, with multiple friends in the area who may/may not have lost homes and winery too. You probably don't recall but thanks again for giving me a ride 10 years ago from CGB over to the ferry to find our luggage, I think 2x. Still owe you a beer (x2) for that.

JD

Sitting here at 4.30 in the morning after being roused at 3 that the fire was closing in again. We can see a glow and Robin, brother, sister, sister in law and Mom have evacuated. C, Gary, Robin's boyfriend and I , are staying but ready to go. I think we will be OK. Lots of sirens and some flashing lights and we can hear choppers but dont think they can drop water or retardent at night. If we make it to daylight OK things will get a lot better.

Oh good a God, Mal - stay safe! Just watching the news this morning and they saying the winds look to pick up again...

Thinking about you guys constantly! Sending endless positive thoughts you're way!! Please all stay safe xxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm praying for California and think of you and Candace whenever I see the news on TV.

Karen

Please check in again when you can, Mal!

We are still at The Ranch.. Norman the famous fibreglass pink Pig who sits in the field is wearing his smoke mask! The great firefighters..some from as far afield as Australia!!..have bulldozed a fire break up the road from us and have lit a back fire. At the moment the winds are down. We have several friends right in the area where the big fire ( for us) is burning and that is three miles east of the historic Sonoma Plaza. We are about 1 mile from the closest mandatory evacuation area. There are some moments of levity in all this. There is a newly erected statue of General Vallejo that sits on a park bench on the Plaza. He has been wearing a smoke mask for a couple of days. Yesterday we drove by to see a line of cop cars from Berkeley lined up and we feared the worst..only to see all the cops surrounding the general having their picture taken! We cruised by in "Speedy" my vintage VW truck and they all cheered. Someone has also been posting signs all over town that say " The love in the air is thicker than smoke". Added to that the Nepalese community that is really big here have been amazing. Nema and Mingma opened a fantastic restaurant here a year or so ago caled "Sonoma Grille". They are giving free food to any police or fireman who drop by and at 5 o clock each day they are hand delivering meals for 150 to the Veteran's Hall where the cops and fireman are resting..probably some of the best chow they've had!!!I would encourage any future visitors to this lovely part of the world to tip those guys heavily..we have been trying to do our part. Apart from the few scumbag looters this has brought out the very best in Wine Country folk..

Thanks for the update! Stay safe!!!!