Valley Fire grows to 67,000 acres, 15 percent contained

ByMatt Keller and Amy Hollyfield KGO logo
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Firefighters continue to battle massive Valley Fire
Firefighters were able to increase containment of the Valley Fire overnight

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. -- The [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/tag/valley-fire/" TARGET="" REL=""]Valley Fire[/url] in Lake, Sonoma, and Napa counties grew to 67,000 acres and is 15 percent contained. Four firefighters have been injured. Several people remain missing. There are 585 homes that have been destroyed and 9,000 structures are threatened. Several highway and [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/valley-fire-evacuation-centers-school-closures----resources-and%20info/982676/" TARGET="" REL=""]school closures[/url] are still in effect.[br /][br /]A [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/bay-area-earthquake-tracker/25012/" TARGET="" REL=""]3.2 earthquake[/url] struck in the area of the fire this morning, but no damage or injuries have been reported.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/donations-how-to-help-valley-fire-victims/982772/" TARGET="" REL=""]DONATIONS: How to help victims of the Valley Fire where you live[/url][/b][br /][br /][twitter ID="643784865222033408" /][br /][br /]Officials say one person has died -- an elderly disabled woman who was found in her home. She's been identified as [url HREF="http://abc7ne.ws/1QdKEQF" TARGET="" REL=""]72-year-old Barbara McWilliams[/url] of Anderson Springs. She had multiple sclerosis. Her caretaker Jennifer Hittson says when she left McWilliams' house Saturday afternoon, they were not aware of the fast-moving fire. That changed quickly and Hittson called the sheriff's department.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/valley-fire-victim-idd-as-woman-with-multiple-sclerosis/984652/" TARGET="" REL=""]VIDEO: Valley Fire victim ID'd as woman with multiple sclerosis[/url][/b][br /][post ID="984652" /][br /][br /]"I knew she was in the house, I knew she would be stuck, and I knew she would have no way of getting out," she said. "I told the sheriff that and I was told quite bluntly that they were busy handling evacuees and they would get to her when they could."[br /][br /]Deputies say they responded to the call within 17 minutes and were unable to approach her house because of the flames.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/photos-fire-crews-battle-10000-acre-valley-fire-in-lake-county/981528/" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: Fire crews battle massive Valley Fire[/url][/b][br /][post ID="981528" /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/resources-valley-fire-evacuation-centers-school-closures/982676/" TARGET="" REL=""]RESOURCES: Valley Fire evacuation centers, school closure information[/url][/b][br /][br /]The Napa County Fairgrounds has the largest number of evacuees with more than 500 people forced out of their homes, many of them lost their homes.[br /][br /][twitter ID="643760869818503168" /][br /][twitter ID="643773111645564928" /][br /][br /][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/valley-fire-evacuation-centers-school-closures----resources-and%20info/982676/" TARGET="" REL=""]All classes and activities[/url] at schools in Middletown and Cobb are suspended until further notice, including this Friday's homecoming football game.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/photos-abc7-news-at-the-valley-fire/984430/" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: ABC7 News at the Valley Fire[/url][/b][br /][post ID="984430" /][br /][br /]As more residents return to their devastated communities today, they will get the chance to see whether their livestock and pets survived the inferno. [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/valley-fire-evacuation-centers-school-closures----resources-and%20info/982676/" TARGET="" REL=""]Evacuation orders[/url] are still in place, but authorities know people are anxious to check on property and pets. Some people have been allowed in-- to see this devastation for themselves. Today--they'll be allowed to check on their animals[br /][br /]Pets and livestock were left behind during the frantic evacuation. This has been a huge concern since the fire broke out Saturday. Facebook pages http://abc7news.com/news/valley-fire-evacuation-centers-school-closures----resources-and%20info/982676/ have been set up dedicated to helping evacuees find their animals or find temporary shelters for them. Animal rescue groups and local feed stores have also been pitching in.[br /][br /]Sheriff's deputies will be escorting people in for 15 minute increments today. They'll meet you in the parking lots of the Kelseyville and lower lake high schools. You need to have ID and they'll take people in from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.[br /][br /][facebook URL="https://www.facebook.com/abc7news/photos/a.154843737078.141791.57427307078/10153651413622079/?type=1" /][br /][br /]Right now there are already approximately 1,800 firefighters battling the blaze. More help from across the country is on the way.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/tag/valley-fire/" TARGET="" REL=""]Click here[/url] for full coverage on the Valley Fire.[/b][br /][br /][b]If you see news where you live, tag your photos and videos on [url HREF="https://twitter.com/hashtag/abc7now" TARGET="" REL=""]Twitter[/url], [url HREF="https://instagram.com/explore/tags/abc7now/" TARGET="" REL=""]Instagram[/url], or [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/abc7now" TARGET="" REL=""]Facebook[/url] with #abc7now.[/b][br /][Ads /][br /][twitter ID="643562361337548800" /][br /][twitter ID="643549949544689664" /][br /][twitter ID="643545508137426944" /][br /][twitter ID="643543774472314880" /][br /][twitter ID="643507809632559104" /][br /][twitter ID="643506599571664896" /][br /][twitter ID="643531564832432128" /][br /][twitter ID="643426554681253888" /][br /][twitter ID="643427601248182273" /][br /][twitter ID="643417839685099521" /][br /][twitter ID="643424983474028545" /][br /][twitter ID="643424430954164225" /][br /][twitter ID="643249942136406016" /][br /][twitter ID="643241696403193856" /][br /][twitter ID="643236536092356608" /][br /][twitter ID="643210976783925252" /][br /][twitter ID="643225592637210625" /][br /][twitter ID="643220769724469248" /][br /][twitter ID="643217593231237120" /][br /][twitter ID="643184645991874561" /][br /][twitter ID="643205041076072449" /][br /][twitter ID="643044675901763588" /][br /][twitter ID="642931283677437952" /][br /][twitter ID="642961682524827648" /][br /][twitter ID="643130974696443904" /][br /][twitter ID="642951360539856896" /][br /][twitter ID="643044265904336897" /][br /][twitter ID="642972420131807232" /][br /][twitter ID="642953522527408130" /][br /][twitter ID="642936729494667264" /][br /][twitter ID="642868554295963648" /][br /][twitter ID="642876172401905664" /][br /][twitter ID="642915625870856192" /][br /][twitter ID="643091579142430720" /][br /][twitter ID="643090423955623936" /][br /][twitter ID="643109421892022272" /][br /][twitter ID="643123183462158336" /][br /][twitter ID="642888700360269824" /][br /][twitter ID="642863145959096320" /][br /][twitter ID="642886346277720064" /]tagboard ID="abc7now/243287" /]