Gusting winds and soggy ground Monday night led to numerous falling trees, including a huge fir that smashed through a Russian River‑area home, narrowly missing a man and his dog.
Forestville firefighters helped the man and old hound dog out from the crushed Oak Road house in Summerhome Park. They’d been on a bed when the tree fell at about 9 p.m, landing between them, said Forestville Assistant Fire Chief Dave Franceschi.
“The dog wasn’t hurt, both of them got really lucky. His house didn’t make out too well,” Franceschi said.
Early Tuesday a large oak toppled onto a passing pickup, just missing the driver but crushing part of the passenger side. The surprised driver called for help at about 6:30 a.m. directing Forestville firefighters to Trenton‑Healdsburg Road near Mark West Station Road. The man had been headed toward Windsor when the tree fell too fast to avoid, the man told firefighters.
The Presidents’ Day storm battered the area with steady rainfall, followed by strong winds that picked up during the night.
While the night was busy, mainly with tree calls, firefighters in several areas of the county said they were surprised it wasn’t a little busier, given the force of the winds.
“Those trees were swaying back and forth. I’m surprised we didn’t get more (calls),” Franceschi said.
Overall, the night wasn’t so bad, said Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman. “I think the storm bypassed us. We got a lot of rain, we got our usual trees down and powers line down.”
Baxman early Tuesday was standing on Moscow Road, checking on a vacation home threatening to slide into the Russian River. It was still standing but the deck looked like it could fall.
About 20 Sonoma County roads were closed Tuesday morning, due to flooding, mudslides and fallen trees and rocks. The CHP early Tuesday reported no major roadway issues.
You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.
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