It’s been a week of fires and roadblocks and worrying about the potential loss of 40,000 turkeys for brothers Willie and Riley Benedetti.

First came the fire that roared toward Calistoga Road last Sunday night. Only a stand by Cal Fire on the western side of the road kept the flames from jumping over and onto the Benedettis’ 400-acre ranch northeast of Santa Rosa and turning Willie Bird Turkeys into Willie Bird Roasted Turkeys. Then came the daily struggle to get 16 tons of feed through roadblocks meant to keep everyone out except firefighting personnel. “Cal Fire saved these turkeys early last Monday morning.” Willie, 68, said Sunday afternoon. Not wanting to risk it again, he and his brother started evacuating the birds. Read more

Leave a Reply