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Tractors blamed for 50 acre fire near Santa Rosa

in News
Matt Rinehart, with Sonoma County Fire fights a grass fire along Llano Road, north of Todd Road, in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)

Tractors blamed for 50 acre fire near Santa Rosa

Matt Rinehart, with Sonoma County Fire fights a grass fire along Llano Road, north of Todd Road, in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)

Two tractors with mechanical issues sparked a 50 acre fire that burned near Santa Rosa Tuesday evening.

Authorities are looking for whomever operated the vehicles, which were spotted by witnesses along eastbound Todd Road where Tuesday’s blaze ignited, said Cyndi Foreman, Sonoma County Fire District division chief and fire marshal.

“It’s accidental in nature,” she said of the fire. “We really encourage heavy equipment operators to make sure their vehicles are in good operating condition, that any trailers they are towing do not have chains that are dragging, and they are conscious of any issues to their vehicles that could potentially cause a spark.”

Fire officials are especially concerned as Sonoma County endures a drought that has significantly dried out vegetation across the North Bay.

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Fires give wineries, hotels another challenge as summer winds down

in Business/News

In recent years, when wildfire smoke choked the air in Sonoma County, Clay Mauritson, co-owner of Mauritson Wines in the Dry Creek Valley, would close the winery’s outdoor patio and only host visitors inside the tasting room.

This time around, however, coronavirus restrictions on indoor dining and drinking have taken that option off the table. So after the Walbridge fire erupted in the hills near Healdsburg two weeks ago, Mauritson decided to close the winery to the public until Sept. 2.

That’s meant canceled wine tasting reservations and lost revenue for the family-owned operation as it recovers from a nearly three-month, pandemic-induced shutdown that was lifted in late May.

“We’re going to roll with the punches,” Mauritson said. “That’s what the theme of this year has been.”

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