Family says missing woman killed in fire at Santa Rosa mobile home park

Byby Elissa Harrington KGO logo
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Family says woman killed in fire at Santa Rosa mobile home park
The family of Linda Tunis has confirmed that she passed away in a wildfire that passed through Journey's End mobile home park in Santa Rosa.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Rosa police confirmed a body was found Wednesday at the Journey's End mobile home park. This park was just one of the neighborhoods destroyed in the fire.[br /][br /]Police say a family member discovered the body of 69-year-old Linda Tunis while sifting through the ruins of her burned down home.[br /][Ads /][br /]Her daughter posted on Facebook, "My mother's remains have been found at her home at Journey's End. May she rest in peace, my sweet Momma."[br /][br /][b]FULL LIST: [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/full-list-north-bay-fires-evacuation-centers-road-closures/2511293/" TARGET="" REL=""]North Bay fires evacuation centers, road closures[/url][/b][br /][br /]Police taped off the area. Cal Fire crews searched the rest of the park, almost entirely leveled by the wildfire.[br /][br /][twitter ID="918198278591672320" /][br /][br /]James Cook, the manager of Journey's End, says he tried to get everyone out in time but the fire moved so fast. "We were doing a door to door, knocking on the doors, getting people out and the wife and I were both doing it. There was other members of the park doing it," he said.[br /][Ads /][br /]There are hundreds of people missing. Cellphone service is down in many parts of the damaged areas.[br /][br /][b]RELATED: [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/how-to-help-wildfire-victims/2515175/" TARGET="" REL=""]How to help wildfire victims[/url][/b][br /][br /]One woman is desperately searching for her mother, 79-year-old Sharon Rae Robinson. She's 5 feet, 4 inches tall and lived off Donner Drive in the Reible Road area. That entire area was wiped out by the fire.[br /][br /]"Her car is still in her garage. I went to her house yesterday, everything is gone and her car is still here. I found her cat, she wouldn't have left voluntarily without her cat," Santa Rosa resident Cathie Merkel said.[br /][br /]She has searched shelters and called hospitals. Merkel says her mom has some memory loss and she hopes someone might recognize her and get her back with her family. "I want my mom back, you know my whole family. We don't know if she's alive or dead. And it would be nice to know," Merkel said.[br /][Ads /][br /]Officials have confirmed that at least 21 people have been killed by fires statewide, 11 of those in Sonoma County. Hundreds remain missing.[br /][br /][twitter ID="918230115955249152" /][br /][br /][br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/tag/north-bay-fires/" TARGET="" REL=""]Click here[/url] for full coverage of the North Bay fires.[/b][br /][br /]b]IMPORTANT: If you are in need of resources, shelter, or assistance please [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/full-list-north-bay-fires-evacuation-centers-road-closures/2511293/" TARGET="" REL=""]click here[/url] -- and we will continue to update [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/full-list-north-bay-fires-evacuation-centers-road-closures/2511293/" TARGET="" REL=""]this page[/url] for resources and complete updates on road closures, school closures, and evacuation orders.[/b]