Fires jumped from wildlands into the city of Santa Rosa, one of the largest cities in the San Francisco Bay Area, on Oct. 8. In the end, 24 people lost their lives and more than 5,000 homes were destroyed displacing thousands in Sonoma County alone.
This is where I lived and worked. My job at The Press Democrat took me to the frontline of the blazes and to the response mounted by municipal, county, state and federal agencies.
For our efforts The Press Democrat was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. Here are some clips from documenting the devastation in what is now the most destructive wildfire in California’s history.
- Most SoCo Alert calls failed to connect in first hours of Sonoma County wildfires (Dec. 15)
- Sonoma County prosecutors charge six landlords with price gouging (Dec. 7)
- ‘Please hurry up it’s really close’: Speed, terror of fires revealed in 911 calls (Dec. 5)
- Mendocino County Sheriff examines lessons learned from Redwood Valley fire (Nov. 9)
- Carl’s Jr. in Santa Rosa catches fire while making burgers for first responders (Oct. 26)
- ICE statement about wildfire-related arson arrest ‘misleading and inflammatory’ (Oct. 19)
- State prison firefighters on the frontlines of Sonoma County wildfires (Oct. 19)
- Firefighters close in on full containment as Sonoma County turns toward recovery (Oct. 17)
- Homes destroyed by fire outside of downtown Sonoma (Oct. 14)
- Sonoma County’s emergency alerts face scrutiny in wake of deadly wildfires (Oct. 12)
- Sonoma, Napa fires wreak havoc with gas, electricity & cellphone service (Oct. 10)
outside-in 
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