A Santa Rosa woman died in the fires, her neighbors survived. Here are their stories
They escaped because a neighbor knocked on the door, because a dog barked in panic, because something deep down told them:
“Death. Go. Leave now.”
The residents of Hemlock Street in Santa Rosa went to bed Sunday night assuming the fires devastating Northern California were miles away.
By 1 a.m., their front doors were flung open to chaos. A wildfire roared through their street, bringing fierce winds, fireballs and embers. Cars exploded. Roofs collapsed. One neighbor, Carol Collins-Swasey, died.
By sunrise, this block of ranch-style homes that neighbors had worked so hard to care for was gone.
“When you stand there and look at the devastation,” Jack Reisner said, “there are no words.”
Only a few houses remained. Some gym equipment. A basketball hoop. A single white lawn chair.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
