Rain soaks Santa Rosa fire zone, but won't stop clean-up

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- Fire clean-up crews persisted in the pounding rain in Santa Rosa's Fountaingrove neighborhood Wednesday night.

"I work in construction and it's nice not having dust everywhere so it's a blessing in disguise," said Jackson Yowell of the rain.

Rain slows contractors down, but doesn't stop work unless run-off makes conditions unsafe.

People did what they could to prepare for the rain. "I know this morning we were selling a lot of tarps," said Stan Edwards, Orchard Supply Hardware. "People are making more makeshift things for sheltering whatever they have left."

The destruction is overwhelming at times said insurance adjuster Bill Leimer.

"It's been emotionally very challenging because the devastation is just incredible," said Leimer, who's in town from New Orleans. He's here to help fire survivors file insurance claims.

"What's incredible to me is this community we're seeing people give back and help each other," noted Leimer.

"The stories are gradually evolving into more positive stories. We're starting to get through this you know? I'm back to work now," said Edwards.

City and county crews will be working into the night checking storm drains and watching for flooding.