Petaluma’s Mystic Theatre opens doors for Atlas, Tubbs fire evacuees
The Mystic Theatre in Petaluma has opened its doors to evacuees affected by the windswept wildfires. The North Bay music venue plans to provide temporary shelter for those in need, and will supply food from McNear’s Saloon & Dining House nearby.
Two blazes, the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa and the Atlas Fire in Napa Valley, ignited late Sunday evening just outside of Petaluma and have burned through more than 35,000 acres so far. Ten deaths have been reported, while hundreds checked into hospitals for injuries related to burns or smoke. The blazes moved quickly, devouring entire neighborhoods with little notice.
The fires continued to spread rapidly due to strong winds and dry conditions as of this report. At least 1,500 buildings were destroyed, forcing up to 20,000 people to evacuate their homes, often without being able to collect any belongings, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
The Tubbs and Atlas fires are just two of 14 separate wildfires that erupted in eight counties, including Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Butte, Yuba and Calavaras. The fires were completely uncontained as of this report. An estimated 73,000 acres were burned statewide. Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba Counties.
A prominent entertainment hall in Sonoma County, the Mystic Theatre has provided a home for theatrical shows in the North Bay since 1911. The venue was renovated in 1992 to house 550 guests, accommodating for more concerts. It has hosted performances by Van Morrison, Joan Baez, Carlos Santana, Train and many more.
The Mystic Theatre is located on 23 Petaluma North Boulevard in Petaluma. Evacuees should heed road closures, which are posted on the California Highway Patrol website. Visit the venue’s Facebook page for more information.
Follow Chloe Catajan at Instagram.com/riannachloe and Twitter.com/riannachloe.