The scar of a fast-moving fire divides the Hopper Lane Apartments, in the city of Santa Rosa. A few are still standing, low slung apartments, clustered by the half dozen, earth-toned and minimal, with through-the-wall air conditioners. Across a cul-de-sac, hot water heaters stand, lonely sentinels.
Nine of the 15 buildings here burned. Flames turned them into soft ash, white-pure in some places, grey, black and chalky in others.
As detectives from the Sonoma County’s Sheriff’s Office winnow down the missing persons list, the work of search and rescue teams is taking on a grimmer tone.
An all-volunteer search and rescue team from Alameda County is one of several set to this task. At the Hopper Lane Apartments, they’ve come with several dogs. Some are trained as trackers, to chase the scent of live people. Some have a second skill: nosing out human remains.
Sonoma County Sergeant Dave Thompson is overseeing this work.