Sunday turns surreal for some in Point Fire's path

KRCB News speaks with some evacuated Dry Creek Valley residents.

photo credit: Marc Albert/KRCB
One of several spot fires associated with the Point Fire, visible June 17, 2024 from Dry Creek Road, northwest of Healdsburg.

As of Monday afternoon, the Point Fire, burning between Lake Sonoma and Healdsburg remains 20 percent contained.

No further mandatory evacuations have been ordered beyond the one zone cleared out yesterday, known as 2E2.

For those in the evacuation zone, the fire's speed, especially at its start Sunday took some by surprise.

Carol Francavilla had just left home midday Sunday for groceries. Driving along Dry Creek road, something suddenly seemed out of place.

"There were a lot of fire engines coming the opposite direction, and I got really nervous, wondering what the deal was," Francavilla said.

She cut the trip short.

"Quickly did grocery shopping and headed back and texted my husband and he, he was looking across the way at Bella Vineyards, there were flames and knew pretty quickly that we were in danger," Francavilla continued.

Rather than preparing a meal on Fathers Day, the couple were suddenly gathering crucial items and important papers.

"Shortly thereafter, the sheriff came and suggested that we leave and we got the evacuation notice and there we went," Francavilla relayed.

After spending the night with friends in Sebastopol, on Monday, Francavilla said she and husband, Kirk Huddleston, got close enough to see that their home remains, but weren't entirely sure their whole property is unscathed.

"We headed back this morning in hopes that we could get back in, but the road's blocked and we talked with the sheriff and they said 'nope, not yet, there's some hotspots,'" Francavilla added.

Having moved from the south bay, the Point fire is no surprise, even if it is unnerving.

"We knew we were running into the fire area, but we weren't expecting it to happen within a month of moving here so yeah, this is not fun," Francavilla concluded.

Still, she says, the speed, skill and tenacity of the response has eased some fears.

"I'm really impressed with how hard the firefighters have been working. and the helicopters, and the dropping of water, it's pretty dang impressive how hard those people work," Francavilla said.