(A modified Boeing 747, the only supertanker of its kind in the world, flies low over Sonoma.  In a single pass, it can dump more than 19 thousand gallons of fire retardant in an area more than a mile long and 200 feet wide.)
 
 
Denise McCambridge was awakened about 3 a.m. on October 9 at her Santa Rosa home.  It was her son, Eric, calling from his Sonoma home, about 15 miles to the east.  He said, “Mom, you are surrounded with fires, and I can’t get to you.”  
 
Denise says, "To hear my son say, 'I can’t get to you' was my first feeling of terror.  Eric, is always calm and in control. But I could hear the concern in his voice."  His advice was to listen to the firefighters and police officers for information on an evacuation route.
 
Denise says, "Fire had already bypassed his home and horse ranch, and I knew that if I could get there I would be safe."
 
Denise rushed outside and saw many of her neighbors coming out of their homes too. "There was heavy smoke everywhere, and the glow of fires in the mountains all around us."  Police came by, urging residents to prepare to evacuate.  About 5 a.m., sirens wailed, loudspeakers blared, and police and firefighters ordered immediate evacuation.   "Heavy winds were blowing, propane tanks were exploding, there were fireballs everywhere."
 
Denise scrambled to leave; her car was in the garage, backed in, as she always does.  She quickly threw in some clothes, medications and important papers.  She looked for her two cats, Junebug and Mayday.  "Junebug was there; there was no sign of Mayday." 
 
Denise and Junebug headed out.  Embers were flying, power lines down and fire was spreading fast.  Many roads were being closed.
 
"I headed east toward Route 116.  Wind was blowing power lines down. Fire was raging on both sides as I drove through the canyon.  It was terrifying."
 
Her Chevy Tahoe is equipped with OnStar. One press of a button and she was connected with an advisor.    It is satellite connected, so she was never in a dead zone.  The advisor gave her realtime updates on which roads were open and which were closed. 
 
"I'm normally a law-abiding citizen, but at one point I got out of the car and pushed aside a road barrier, believing that road was safe, and my only way out."
 
She made it safely to her son's home.  She stayed there for more than a week, not knowing whether her home was still standing.  Then, evacuees were given permission to return.
 
Denise's home was still there.  Her street was untouched by fire.  But "The terrible high winds that started the fires blew down trees and scattered debris throughout our neighborhood.  It left limbs, leaves, and trash cans in the yards and on our roofs. Plants were ripped apart and yard art has been blown down the street.  Everything is covered in ash.  Patio furniture, cars, windows ...anything left outside.  Smoke is still heavy.  Freezer and refrigerator had to be emptied. Not easy.  My freezer was full.  When meats thaw and spoil it's ugly."
 
There was some good news.  The family's wine warehouses in Sonoma were untouched by fire.  And shortly after Denise got back to her home, wondering if cats really do have nine lives, her missing cat,  Mayday, "came strolling in, fat and sassy.  Amazing." 
 
As this is written, some wine country fires were still burning, more than 40 thousand Californians had been evacuated, the death toll was 42, and more than 8,400 homes and businesses were destroyed.
 
(Editor's note:  it can happen anytime, anywhere. Fire or earthquake.   Come to the PDTC Town Hall meeting Friday, November 10 to hear Denise tell her story in person. She will have more on her experience, and some very specific advice about emergency preparedness.)