The fire ravaging parts of California wine country threatens the region's $1 billion agriculture industry
The fires in Napa and Sonoma counties have killed at least 10 people and destroyed more than 1,500 homes and businesses, the Los Angeles Times reported. More than 100 people have reportedly checked into local hospitals for fire-related injuries or health issues, like burns, smoke inhalation, and shortness of breath, according to CNN.
The disaster has burned more than 119,000 acres, including some the area's scenic farms, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Many ranchers and farmers - along with their dairy cows, chickens, sheep, and goats - have evacuated or are preparing to leave due to the fires.
The effects on the local agriculture industry could be catastrophic.
According to the 2016 Sonoma County Crop Report, the value of the county's agriculture came close to $900 million last year, with wine grapes accounting for more than half of that total. Livestock and poultry accounted for $178 million - Sonoma County farms house 30,000 dairy cows and 35,000 sheep and goats. The area is also home to an estimated 3,000 to 9,000 medical cannabis farmers.
The fires will likely impact wine production in Northern California. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that although farmers have already picked 75% of the region's grapes, most of the cabernet sauvignon and merlot crops were still on the vines when the fires started.
Moving livestock in the affected areas has been no easy task.
The Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa and the Sebastopol Grange in Sebastopol recently announced that they are accepting evacuated livestock. Some ranchers are employing backup generators so that animals can still get water if farmers aren't on hand and the power goes out. Many are also covering the highly flammable hay and only opening select gates so that livestock won't get trapped if a fire comes.
On Monday, Carleen Weirauch of Weirauch Farm & Creamery in Santa Rosa posted a photo on Facebook showing flames raging behind her herd.
"Lord please keep my animals safe," she wrote.