Photos: California fire victims return home as crews gain ground
With the winds dying down, fire crews gained ground as they battled wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week, and thousands of people got the all-clear to return home.
California Wildfires
A firefighter carries a water hose to put out a fire during along the Highway 29 Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, near Calistoga, Calif. Firefighters gained some ground on a blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country but face another tough day ahead with low humidity and high winds expected to return. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
A firefighter walks along the Highway 29 while battling a wildfire Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, near Calistoga, Calif. Communities in wildfire-prone Northern California have an array of emergency systems designed to alert residents of danger: text messages, phone calls, emails and tweets. But after days of raging blazes left at least 23 dead, authorities said those methods will be assessed after some residents complained those warnings never got through. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Genevieve Maiden, 9, and her mother Shay, put up thank you signs for those fighting the massive wildfires, Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Oakville, Calif. Firefighters gained some ground on a blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country but face another tough day ahead with low humidity and high winds expected to return.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
California Wildfires
Firefighters put out a fire Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, near Calistoga, Calif. Firefighters gained some ground on a blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country but face another tough day ahead with low humidity and high winds expected to return. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Firefighter Robert Elliott, right, cuts a line to prevent a wildfire from jumping to the other side of the road Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, near Calistoga, Calif. Firefighters gained some ground on a blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country but face another tough day ahead with low humidity and high winds expected to return. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
FILE--In this Oct. 9, 2017, file photo, firefighters battle flames along Jamboree Road in Orange, Calif. The long and brutal 2017 wildfire season is stressing the state and federal agencies that have to pay for the army of ground crews and machinery required to fight them. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP, file)
California Wildfires
FILE--In this Oct. 12, 2017, file photo, a Cal Fire air tanker makes a fire retardant drop on a wildfire as the pilot protects structures on the Hawkeye Ranch above Geyserville, Calif. The long and brutal 2017 wildfire season is stressing the state and federal agencies that have to pay for the army of ground crews and machinery required to fight them. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP, file)
California Wildfires
FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2017, file photo, a firefighter walks near a flaming house in Santa Rosa, Calif. The long and brutal 2017 wildfire season is stressing the state and federal agencies that have to pay for the army of ground crews and machinery required to fight them. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
California Wildfires
A Sonoma City firefighter walks in front of flames during a backburn operation Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen , Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Sonoma firefighter Pete Avencino launches an incendiary device during a backburn operation Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Healdsburg Wiley Valley, right, and Mike Dwyer are engulfed in smoke from a wildfire along a mountain road Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Healdsburg firefighters Wiley Valley, right, throws an incendiary device next to partner Mike Dwyer during a backburn operation while fighting a wildfire Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
A residence in the hills above Sonoma, Calif., has a posted sign alerting people to an available pool if needed to shelter from wildfires Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Stories of some people who lived through the inferno by standing in backyard swimming pools this week is spreading. (AP Photo/Ellen Knickmeyer)
California Wildfires
A row of chimneys stand in a neighborhood devastated by a wildfire Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, near Santa Rosa, Calif. Firefighters gained some ground on a blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country but face another tough day ahead with low humidity and high winds expected to return. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Caifornia Wildfires
Evacuees Ron Vitt, 75, left, and Ellen Brantley, 65, enjoy an evening at Sonoma Raceway sipping wine as smoke from several wildfires fills the sky Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Sonoma, Calif. They celebrated their 29th anniversary Sunday, Oct. 8. Their home is okay, so far. (AP Photo/Janie Har)
California Wildfires
A home off Glen Eagle Court in Fountaingrove, lies in ruin in the devastation of a wildfire, Friday Oct. 13, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. A fifth day of desperate firefighting in California wine country brought a glimmer of hope Friday as crews battling the flames reported their first progress toward containing the massive blazes, and hundreds more firefighters poured in to join the effort. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP)
California Wildfires
A firefighter looks for flammable items in an evacuated residential area as wildfires continue to burn Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. Fire officials have ordered mandatory evacuations. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
A firefighter looks for flammable items in an evacuated residential area as wildfires continue to burn Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. Fire officials have ordered mandatory evacuations. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, a view from inside a parked car destroyed by fire in the Coffey Park area of Santa Rosa, Calif. An onslaught of wildfires across a wide swath of Northern California broke out almost simultaneously then grew exponentially, swallowing up properties from wineries to trailer parks and tearing through both tiny rural towns and urban subdivisions. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
California Wildfires
A helicopter drops water over a wildfire burning behind a winery Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. Fire crews made progress this week in their efforts to contain the massive wildfires in California wine country, but officials say strong winds are putting their work to the test. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, shows a fire hose abandoned in front of a living destroyed home the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa, Calif. Coffey Park was a square-mile of middle-class homes and friendly neighbors on the northern edge of Santa Rosa. Now it is a hellscape. The neighborhood was among the hardest hit areas from the series of wildfires that broke out last Sunday, Oct. 9. Dozens died and thousands of homes were destroyed, 2,800 alone from the Tubbs Fire that scorched Santa Rosa. With most of their homes in ashes, Coffey Park residents now wistfully recall what was and wonder about what comes next. (AP Photo/Jonathan Copper)
California Wildfires
In this Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 photo, shows Dan Hageman, a 49-year-old construction worker in the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa, Calif. Hageman quickly sprayed down his house and yard, then fled with this wife. His home was one of the few that survived. Coffey Park was a square-mile of middle-class homes and friendly neighbors on the northern edge of Santa Rosa. (AP Photo/Jonathan Copper)
California Wildfires
Firefighter Chris Oliver walks between grape vines as a helicopter drops water over a wildfire burning near a winery Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. Fire crews made progress this week in their efforts to contain the massive wildfires in California wine country, but officials say strong winds are putting their work to the test. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Firefighters Mike Beeman, left, and Chris Oliver watch as a helicopter drops water over a wildfire burning near a winery Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. Fire crews made progress this week in their efforts to contain the massive wildfires in California wine country, but officials say strong winds are putting their work to the test. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
An unidentified cat injured his paws when wildfires swept through California wine country is cared for at Sonoma County Animal Services in Santa Rosa, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. In frantic race to escape the flames, many people were forced to leave their pets behind, and many are being brought to the county animal shelter where a team of veterinarians is looking after them. (AP Photo/Jonathan J. Cooper)
California Wildfires
CalFire firefighters protect structures from fires in Sonoma, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (Randall Benton /The Sacramento Bee via AP)
California Wildfires
An aircraft drops fire retardant along the ridge of hills just west of Yountville, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (Randall Benton /The Sacramento Bee via AP)
California Wildfires
Fire threatens homes in a rural area of Sonoma, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (Randall Benton /The Sacramento Bee via AP)
California Wildfires
Hundreds of spectators watch as about a half-dozen helicopters fill their buckets with water from a reservoir on Dwyer Road in Yountville, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (Randall Benton /The Sacramento Bee via AP)
California Wildfires
A CalFire firefighter turns his head away from the heat of a fire as he protects structures in Sonoma, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (Randall Benton /The Sacramento Bee via AP)
California Wildfires
Fire crews battle a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Firefighter Ruben Mercado from engine 13 crew out of Burbank, Calif., battles a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
A firefighter cuts fuel from an advancing wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Firefighter Terry Sanders and son Isaac, 11, who lost their home in a wildfire, comfort each other in front of their neighbor's home destroyed by the same wildfire after trying to find sentimental items belonging to the neighbor Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. Nearly a week after the blazes began, the fires have left dozens of people dead and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, making them the deadliest and most destructive group of wildfires in California history. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
A firefighter runs along a containment line while battling a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
A firefighter holds a water hose while fighting a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Fire crews battle a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Fire crews battle a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
A firefighter looks up at flames from a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Fire crews battle a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Fresh flowers are placed, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa, Calif., that was devastated by a wildfire. A state fire spokesman says it appears firefighters are making good progress on deadly wildfires that started a week earlier, devastating wine country and other parts of rural Northern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Homes destroyed from fires are seen from an aerial view in Santa Rosa, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California Wildfires
A law enforcement officer blocks a road as flames burn in a residential area in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California Wildfires
A flag is draped on the back of a truck destroyed by fires in Santa Rosa, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California Wildfires
A firefighter sprays a hose into a Keysight Technologies building in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California Wildfires
Kristine Pond reacts as she searches the remains of her family's home destroyed by fires in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California Wildfires
Mark Pedersen, left, and his son Ben look through the remains of their home destroyed by fires in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California Wildfires
Smoke and flames from fire at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California Wildfires
Half of a sports field is shown damaged from fires at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California Wildfires
This Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, photo provided by Christine Tye shows the damage to her Gingerbread Farms property in Sonoma, Calif. Tye lost her Sonoma home early Monday, as flames ripped through her neighborhood. It was 2:30 a.m. when she awoke and realized her house was completely surrounded by flames. (Christine Tye/Gingerbred Farms via AP)
California Wildfires
Ed Curzon sifts debris to salvage anything he can from the rubble of his home that was destroyed by a wildfire in the Coffey Park neighborhood Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. "This is our home. This is where we grew up. This is where our kids grew up," said Curzon. "We will rebuild here." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Ed Curzon, right, and his daughter Margaret sift debris to salvage anything they can from the rubble of their home, destroyed by a wildfire in the Coffey Park neighborhood Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. "My parents and my dogs are alive. That's all that matters," said Margaret. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Smoke continues to billow in the hills behind Napa, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. With the winds dying down, fire officials said Sunday they were finally getting the upper hand against the wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week, and thousands of people got the all-clear to return home. (AP Photo/John Mone)
California Wildfires
Jeff Wolf, with the El Dorado Hot Shots, out of Pollock Pines, Calif., monitors a wildfire from a mountain top, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Oakville, Calif. With the winds dying down, fire officials in California say they are finally getting the upper hand against the wildfires that have devastated wine country and other parts of the state over the past week. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
California Wildfires
Benjamin Lasker, 16, pauses while looking at what remains of his home after a wildfire swept through Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. With the winds dying down, fire officials said Sunday they have apparently "turned a corner" against the wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week, and thousands of people got the all-clear to return home. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Howard Lasker, right, comforts his daughter, Gabrielle, who is visiting their home for the first time since a wildfire swept through it Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. With the winds dying down, fire officials said Sunday they have apparently "turned a corner" against the wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week, and thousands of people got the all-clear to return home. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
A bouquet of fresh flowers are placed, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in the Coffey Park neighborhood in Santa Rosa, Calif., that was devastated by a wildfire. A state fire spokesman says it appears firefighters are making good progress on deadly wildfires that started a week earlier, devastating wine country and other parts of rural Northern California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Wildfire evacuees Beatrice Thomas, 85, right, chats with her husband, Al, who is also 85, at First United Methodist Church that doubles as an evacuation shelter Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. "We've heard that our home is still there, but we have no confirmation of it. We can't go see it," said Beatrice. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
California Wildfires
Angel Alicea, right, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, registers Morgan Witherspoon for disaster assistance at the Loma Rica Foothill Lions Club in Loma Rica on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. (Chris Kaufman/The Appeal-Democrat via AP)