Oakmont’s Semimonthly Newspaper
nMarty Thompson and Julie Kiil
Residents returned to Oakmont from eight days with families and friends and in hotel rooms after firefighters stopped the Glass wildfire at the edge of the community, saving all but six of Oakmont’s 3,200 homes. Residents faced a cleanup job, removing ash from yards and patios and disposing of food that had rotted in powerless refrigerators and freezers. Although utilities in Oakmont are underground, power lines from outside are on wooden poles which burned, cutting electricity that might have powered appliances during the evacuation.
Glass Fire flames loom over west Oakmont. (Photo by Julie Kiil)
Flames and wind-blown cinders from the wildfire burned homes and buildings on the north side of Highway 12, then crossed the highway to scorch the ground and many wood fences before reaching the houses that were destroyed. OVA President Steve Spanier said in a statement: “Sadly, the fire seems to have taken a handful of our homes, thereby rupturing the lives of some of our residents. Although the home loss is far less than it could have been had first responders not so valiantly held the lines protecting Oakmont, we know this is still unfathomably hard for those who lost homes. As always, our hearts go out to these neighbors and our everlasting gratitude goes to the first responder
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Fire Evacuation in Oakmont organizations that saved our community from more widespread devastation.” Spanier also said he expected the board to vote in its October meeting on dues forgiveness for owners whose homes were lost. “In the meantime, we know that the pain of your loss coupled with the pain of not being able to return is a terrible burden to bear. You are in our thoughts and we will do what we can to smooth the path you now must walk,” Spanier wrote in an email. OVA staff, working from home, provided a stream of email information from the city, PG&E and other sources on getting utilities restarted, cleaning up fallen ash, disposing of spoiled foods and other emergency information. Returnees were greeted by electronic “Welcome Home” signs placed at entrances to Oakmont by PG&E. The utility’s Joe Horak said its gas service restoration team was responsible. He told OVA, “So glad we were able to help. This is not a fun process for your residents so I am glad we are helping to make it a bit less difficult.” Although the evacuation notice for Oakmont’s three zones was lifted on Monday, Oct. 5, evacuation warning notices remained in place until being lifted by the police department three days later on Oct. 8— the third anniversary of the start of the 2017 wildfires. By Wednesday evening, Oct. 7, PG&E said it had
restored gas service to all residents who had returned home with only 300 remaining. Notices were hung on doors of homes where utility representatives were unable to make contact. The utility had 200 workers restoring An electronic welcome home service in Oakmont. sign placed by PG&E to greet Oakmonters returning from PG&E expected to pull its crew out of Oakmont evacuation. (Photo by Julie Kiil) by Thursday, Oct. 9. Anyone still without gas was asked to call the utility at 800-PGE-5000. A large PG&E staging area serving the region was located across Highway 12 at Pythian Road.
New utility poles stacked at PG&E’s staging area across from Oakmont, ready for use as replacements for poles burned in the Glass Fire. (Photo by Julie Kiil)
See evacuation on page 9
“Thank You First Responders” is the message on a sign posted along Meadowridge Drive by the Aspen Meadows HOA, some of whose members posed with the sign. (Photo by Mariellen Munson)
OVA Announces Golf Club Lease Deal with CourseCo nStaff Report
The Oakmont Village Association (OVA) has announced a lease agreement with CourseCo, a Petaluma-based golf club operator. The 10-year lease, featuring multiple possible extensions, replaces the temporary management agreement with CourseCo. The new complex will be named Valley of the Moon Club. CourseCo operates, either via lease agreement or management contract, 38 other golf clubs. Most of these golf clubs are in California and many are in the Bay Area. CourseCo President Mike Sharp said in a statement: “CourseCo is thrilled to be the new stewards of the beautiful golf courses and restaurant which are at the
October 15, 2020 • Volume 59, Number 20
heart of Oakmont and of great value and importance to community residents and visitors. Much work is underway and still more is planned. This will be a unique setting for golf and social gatherings that we hope and expect will bring pride to the community and the wine country. We are honored and excited for the opportunity to lead the renaissance of Valley of the Moon.” OVA Board President Steve Spanier said: “We’re delighted to be entering a long-term partnership with CourseCo, a management company that has
Firefighter Helped Protect Oakmont—Time Now For Us To Give Back nHarriet Palk
While Capt. Michael Musgrove and his crew were working in Oakmont to hold back the fastapproaching wildfire, Musgrove’s house on St. Helena Road in rural Santa Rosa went up in flames and could not be saved, almost to the day one year ago that he unexpectedly lost his 20-year-old daughter. He had owned the house for only two days and had not yet arranged for fire insurance. A GoFundMe page has been set up for Musgrove aimed at raising $750,000. You can find the link to his page and contribute at www.KTVU.com, click on Wildfires, then View More, then scroll down to find the story Firefighter Loses Home to Glass Fire. The link is at the end of the story.
See courseco on page 3 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA ROSA, CA PERMIT NO. 323
Photo from KTVU.