Firefighters evacuate fire station; rain just getting started

Overnight rainfall on Monday evening of 3 to 10 inches across Sonoma County flooded more than a dozen roadways, triggered mudslides and knocked over trees. And more rain is on the way.

Deep water also forced Schell‑Vista firefighters to evacuate their main station at Highway 121 and 12. Between calls they now are camped at the older station on Eighth Street East and East Napa Street, Schell‑Vista Fire Chief Ray Mulas said.

Mulas estimated standing water on Broadway, not far from the main station, was as much as 2 feet deep — twice the depth during the earlier February storm.

'We had to evacuate the station just so we don't have to keep driving through that deep water,' Mulas told the Press Democrat.

Russian River area residents have been told to evacuate. The latest prediction show the Russian River going over its banks starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, and reaching nearly 46 feet by 10 p.m. Wednesday. At 46 feet, much of downtown Guerneville would flood.

Rainfall totals since the storm began Monday morning reached more than 10 inches in Cazadero, more than 6 inches in Guerneville, 5 inches in Glen Ellen, several areas had more than 4 inches, including Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg and Occidental. Santa Rosa neighborhoods got more than 3 inches, according to resident rain watchers who report to the National Weather Service.

The forecast calls for more rain in the area later Tuesday with rain into Thursday.

Check the map below to see current road closures:

Tracy Vogt of Charlie's Acre's farm animal sanctuary on Napa Road said that if anyone needs space to evacuate their animals, she has a couple empty barn stalls set aside to help out if needed. !Email rhianna@charliesacres.org.

As for sand bags, Friedmans Home Improvement is offering up to 20 free bags for sand per customer.

Customers are responsible for filling their own bags and Friedmans will provide the tools to do so.

If a customer needs more than 20 bags, they may purchases a bag for $0.32/piece and can fill those bags with free sand from the sand pile as well. Sand is for sand bags only.

Sandbags are also available at Sonoma City Hall and sand at Depot Park, while supplies last.