This week we are remembering the night the wildfires ripped through our community. In observance of the anniversary of the fires, the City of Santa Rosa invited members of the community to illustrate their experiences with chalk in Courthouse Square. In this audio postcard, KRCB reporter Adia White listens to Lisa Mast as she writes messages of hope on the sidewalk with her friends. Coffey Park resident Lisa Mast (right) with friend. Credit: Adia White

 

Yesterday we heard about the report of the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury –- a report that found serious shortcomings in the county’s emergency preparedness. One part of the jury’s report concerns the evacuation and sheltering of animals displaced in the wildfires.

The anniversary of the October wildfires is coming next month. Even now, some aspect of the disaster is in the headlines nearly every day.

On August 28, Sonoma County held its first wildfire recovery meeting entirely in Spanish – nearly 11 months after the October fires began. About a hundred people showed up at Lawrence Cook Middle School in Roseland to meet with county officials. Reporter Adia White was there and has more on residents’ The Larkfield neighborhood in Santa Rosa was devastated by the Tubbs Fire. Many Spanish speakers were affected by rising rents after thousands were displaced during the October fires. Photo Credit: Lars Plougmanntop concerns.

This report was supported by a grant from Internews.