NORTH BAY FIRES: The evacuation of Oakmont Senior Living in Santa Rosa
Byby Melanie Woodrow
The state plans to revoke the license of two assisted living facilities after investigators found that the operators failed to protect residents during last year's North Bay Wildfires.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- Since the Santa Rosa fires and evacuation of Oakmont Senior Living on Fountaingrove Parkway in the early morning hours of Monday, October 9, 2017, the Department of Social Services has opened investigations into the evacuations of three of Oakmont Senior Living's communities including Varenna at Fountaingrove, Villa Capri and Fountaingrove Lodge. OSL says all 430 residents are accounted for, safe. Some resident's family members however say they were instrumental in evacuating residents. OSL says while it was shuttling residents to safety, law enforcement officers prevented them from going back to the property. However, the Santa Rosa Police Department has said there were no road blocks. In addition to the DSS investigations, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services and city of Santa Rosa are now investigating OSL's removal of fire debris from Villa Capri without a city permit, possibly using trucks that weren't permitted either. The debris removal occurred before the US EPA could check the toxicity of the debris.
Here's a look at Melanie Woodrow's reports:
- Thursday, April 4, 2019: Oakmont Senior Living caregiver speaks out about Tubbs Fire evacuation
- Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017: Seniors may have been left at burning Oakmont living center
- Friday, Oct. 13, 2017: Varenna Oakmont Senior Living resident describes harrowing facility evacuation
- Monday, Oct. 16, 2017: Family, employee who helped evacuate assisted living facility question if fire evacuation plan existed
- Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017: Attorney says understaffing at Oakmont Senior Living may have played a role in evacuation
- Monday, Oct. 23, 2017: Family questions Oakmont Senior Living's statement that all 430 residents are 'settling into new living arrangements'
- Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017: Dept. of Social Services opens 3rd investigation into evacuation from Oakmont Senior Living
- Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017: Officials: Senior living center removed fire debris without permit
- Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017: Trucks used to haul fire debris may not have been permitted
- Monday, Nov. 20, 2017: SF attorney files lawsuit accusing Oakmont Senior Living of elder abuse, negligence
- Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018: Lawsuit against Oakmont Management Group amended to include 'wrongful death'
- Friday, March 2, 2018: Oakmont Senior Living responds to wrongful death lawsuit
- Thursday, April 12, 2018: Family of loved one who passed after Oakmont Senior Living fire speaks out
- Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018: 2 Santa Rosa assisted living facilities could lose licenses after DSS North Bay Fires investigation
- Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018: Varenna Oakmont Senior Living reaches settlement after deadly North Bay Fires
Click here for full coverage of the North Bay fires.
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