Wildfire in Sonoma County: Thousands Forced to Evacuate

A fire broke out in northwestern Sonoma County last Thursday, prompting thousands of residents to flee their homes.

The wildfire, which has already consumed 500 hectares, is raging in the hills of the north of Guerneville. The fire spread from the west of Dry Creek Road to the coast of Fort Ross, and the north of the river to Stewarts Skaggs Springs Road.

The more massive fire, which was uncontained and called 13-14, covered central Sonoma County late Tuesday with layers of smoke.

The second fire was called 11-16 and burned north of Jenner, between Meyers Grade Road. The coast called for immediate evacuation as well. By Tuesday evening, authorities estimate that the fire was estimated to have covered 25 acres and was also uncontained. 

This is the first fire-related mandatory evacuation for Sonoma County for this year's fire season. 

(Photo: Pixabay)
A wildfire broke out in northwestern Sonoma County last Thursday, prompting thousands of residents to flee their homes.

According to Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, "it just blew up this afternoon," she described the incident as she saw it when she drove the River Road to Forestville, which was outside the evacuation zone on Tuesday. Hopkins related, "The wind picked up. There are some gusts that are really driving this fire. You see the smoke, but then suddenly, there was a massive fire."

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Intense Wildfire

It has been more than 40 years since 1978 Creighton Ridge fire broke out in the areas that are burning, and residents fear it may bring more intense fires, as they do not know what kind of fuel is stored in the said areas now. 

On Tuesday, the humidity dropped, and the afternoon heat increased. Fires that have been burning exploded, causing it to spread more rapidly, and sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The 13-4 fire spewed ash in as far as Bennett Valley, Hopkins said.

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Evacuation Orders and Closed Schools Notice

As of 8:40 P.M., August 18

As of Tuesday afternoon, evacuation orders were expanded in western Sonoma County due to separate fires in a rural area in the hills west of Healdsburg. 

These fires are an addition to the lighting-caused wildfire in the North Bay, which is also known as the LNU Lightning Complex Fires. 

New Mandatory evacuations were ordered in these areas as of 4 P.M.

• West of Meyers Grade Road to the coast
• South of Fort Ross Road
• North of the intersection of Meyers Grade Road at Highway 1

Previous evacuation orders in place:

• North of Austin Creek Recreational Area
• East of The Cedars
• Mill Creek Road west of the intersection of Puccioni Road
• South of Stewarts Point Skaggs Springs Road

Closed school districts on Wednesday

• Monte Rio
• Guerneville
• Ft. Ross
• Kashia-Rancheria
• Montgomery

Fire in Napa County

In Napa County, five wildfires also broke out. Three of the fires became major blaze, burning more than 30,000 acres in the county. The incident also prompted evacuation orders in five of nine Bay Area counties, including Mendocino County.

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