Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Point Fire Erupts Near Healdsburg—900 Acres Burned, Evacuation Orders Issued, Structures Destroyed

The Point Fire as seen from the California Fire Camera on Geyser Peak

A wildfire, dubbed the Point Fire, has spread across 121 acres near the Northern Sonoma County community of Healdsburg, prompting evacuation warnings for nearby residents.

The fire, which was first reported at approximately 12:44 p.m., has rapidly grown in size. The latest updates indicate that the blaze remains active, with containment efforts still underway.

Around 3:00 p.m. this afternoon the Incident Commander requested additional resources, including 20 engines, 10 bulldozers, and six firefighting crews to combat the fire’s spread.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for Zone SON-2E2, which includes the north end of West Dry Creek Road down to Stang Road near Lake Sonoma. Residents in this area are advised to prepare for potential evacuation.

The initial report from Air Attack indicated the fire started in grass and brush, covering an area of 3 to 4 acres with a moderate rate of spread.

It quickly escalated, reaching over 100 acres within hours. By 2:54 p.m., Cal Fire LNU reported the fire had grown to approximately 100 acres with 15% containment, though the containment status has since changed as the fire expanded further.

- Advertisement -

UPDATE 3:16 p.m.: The evacuation warnings have been upgraded to orders. The following was published by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office on their Facebook page:

There is an evacuation order for everyone at the northern terminus of West Dry Creek Road down to Fall Creek Road and all areas west of West Dry Creek Road in that area to Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road due to a wildfire in the area.

You must evacuate immediately.

UPDATE 3:39 p.m.: The Incident Commander estimated the Point Fire has the potential to grow to 300-500 acres.


UPDATE 4:22 p.m.: The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has issued another round of evacuation orders and

(español abajo) Evacuation Order for SON-2E2 and Evacuation Warning for SON-2E3

Evacuation Order has been expanded to include all residents in Zone SON-2E2 (Dry Creek Valley):

North and East of Chemise Road
South of Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road
West of Dry Creek (the creek)

If you are in the above areas please calmly and quickly evacuate. Check with your neighbors to ensure they have been made aware of the order. First Responders are currently working on going door to door to assist.

Evacuation Warning has been applied to all residents in Zone SON-2E3 (Dry Creek Valley):

North of Mill Creek Road
South of Chemise Road
East of Wallace Creek Road
West of Dry Creek (the creek)

Go to socoemergency.org or call 2-1-1 if you have any questions. View the interactive evacuation map and search by address at https://sonomacounty.maps.arcgis.com/.../index.html.... If you need help evacuating animals, call 707-861-0699 (Sonoma CART). If you need help evacuating livestock or animals, call 707-234-7193 (NorCal Livestock Evac).Evacuation Order for Zone SON-2E2. Evacuation Warning for Zone SON-2E3.

****

La Orden de Evacuación se ha ampliado para incluir a todos los residentes en Zona SON-2E2 (Dry Creek Valley):

Norte y este de Chemise Road
Al sur de Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road
Al oeste del arroyo Dry Creek

Si se encuentra en las áreas mencionadas anteriormente, evacue con calma y rapidez. Consulte con sus vecinos para asegurarse de que hayan sido informados de la orden. Los socorristas están trabajando actualmente y van de puerta en puerta para ayudar.

Se ha aplicado una Advertencia de Evacuación a todos los residentes en la zona SON-2E3 (Dry Creek Valley):

Al norte de Mill Creek Road
Al sur de Chemise Road
Al este de Wallace Creek Road
Al oeste de arroyo Dry Creek

Visite www.socoemergency.org o llame al 2-1-1 si tiene alguna pregunta. Vea el mapa de evacuación interactivo y busque por dirección https://sonomacounty.maps.arcgis.com/.../index.html....

Si necesita ayuda para evacuar animales, llame al 707-861 -0699 (CART de Sonoma). Si necesita ayuda para evacuar ganado o animales, llame al 707-234-7193 (NorCal Livestock Evac).


UPDATE 5:05 p.m.: Sonoma County put in an all-call. Any available engine, any type, report to the fire for structure protection.


UPDATE 5:32 p.m: CAL FIRE LNU issued the following update regarding the Point Fire:

[Image from CAL FIRE LNU]
The fire is approximately 200 acres & 15% contained. Increasing NW winds and low relative humidity are making for challenging conditions. The fire is making a hard push down slope off of Bradford Mountain to the south.

Crews are in structure defense along W Dry Creek Rd, north of Yoakim Bridge Rd.

The Point Fire [Screenshot from a video published by CAL FIRE LNU

UPDATE 6:57 p.m.: The Point Fire has now expanded to an estimated 550 acres, according to Air Attack.

An update from CAL FIRE LNU indicates structures are actively threatened along West Dry Creek Road, north of Yoakim Bridge Road and “especially on the NE side of Bradford Mtn.”

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has designated Laguna High School, also known as El Molino High School, located at 7050 Covey Road in Forestville, as a temporary evacuation point.


UPDATE 8:48 p.m.: As per an announcement from CAL FIRE LNU, the Point Fire has expanded to approximately 900 acres and remains 15% contained. There are confirmed reports of structures destroyed, with damage inspections ongoing to determine the type and number of structures affected.

- Advertisement -

The fire has moved south toward Mountain View Ranch Road. Crews are hopeful that the threat to structures along the Upper Dry Creek Valley will diminish by sundown. Firefighters, supported by fixed-wing aircraft, are concentrating efforts on reinforcing the right flank to the west


Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.


- Advertisement -

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you to all the firefighters who are risking their lives to save lives. Prayers to everyone affected by this fire ??

  2. Thanks you democrats for keeping all the dead trees and fuel loads for the bugs and slugs with you insane forest management so we can pay astronomical Insurance rates!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Matt LaFever
Matt LaFeverhttps://mendofever.com/
For the past seven years, Matt LaFever has covered the North Coast of California in both print and radio news. A Humboldt State graduate, he has lived in the Emerald Triangle for nearly 20 years. His reporting spans local issues like crime and wildfires. When not writing, Matt is an avid outdoorsman, exploring Northern California’s rugged landscapes. Reach out to him at matthewplafever@gmail.com.

Today's News

-Advertisement-

News from the Week

Discover more from MendoFever – Mendocino County News

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading