![Smoke and flames on the Masonite Fire. [Image from the Alert California camera]](https://i0.wp.com/mendofever.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Smoke-and-flames-on-the-Masonite-Fire-noresize.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=1 "Smoke and flames on the Masonite Fire-noresize")
A fire has started in northern Ukiah near Masonite Road Wildfire near N State Street and Orr Springs Rd. Flames are not only on both sides of Highway 101 but also in the center divide. The flames are moving southbound. North State Street is being closed as of 4:47 p.m.
The northbound #1 lane of Hwy 101 is closed.
Evacuations are underway behind the Mendo Mill.
Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.
UPDATE 5 p.m.: The smoke has decreased but more evacuations are being called for. The fire is pushing east at this point.
UPDATE 5:10 p.m.: Caltrans is reporting that 101 is entirely closed down. According to Caltrans QuickMap, “Northbound / Southbound 101 Full Closure From Lake Mendocino Dr Undercrossing 10-201 to North State St Undercrossing 10-196.”
UPDATE 5:14 p.m.: Matt LaFever is on the scene.
![Firefighters working to keep the fire from damaging structures. [Photo by Matt LaFever]](https://i0.wp.com/kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/456260907_1034765358378335_2224159438023303783_n.jpg?w=696&ssl=1)
![Firefighters working to keep the fire from damaging structures. [Photo by Matt LaFever]](https://i0.wp.com/kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/457158238_1666049827515654_6762745676045555646_n.jpg?w=696&ssl=1)
UPDATE 5:18 p.m.: Ukiah Fire Department Emergency Medical team is responding to a patient with smoke inhalation.
UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: Matt LaFever is telling us that in spite of the report from Caltrans, traffic is still flowing southbound but northbound is closed.
UPDATE 5:23 p.m.: The Mendocino Sheriff’s Department posted a Evacuation Order for Zone MEN-2UKV15-B.
“Evacuation Order: Wildfire in the Ukiah area, 1800 Block N State Street, Do not delay, evacuate immediately. Check with your neighbors to ensure they are aware of the order if you have time. Use the safest manner possible when evacuating. Do not block the road. Emergency crews need access. Only call 9 1 1 for emergencies. We will publish more information including evacuation zone maps and social media updates to mendoready.org as more information becomes available.”
UPDATE 5:31 p.m.: The Incident Commander sent the chopper back to base as the fire is looking good. Caltrans has been asked to shut down the southbound #2 for emergency vehicles.
Update 5:57 p.m.: According to MCSO, the “Evacuation Order is being downgraded to an Evacuation Warning for Wildfire… .”
Prayers
Sending Prayers ?
Thanks Matt.
Are the Ukiah stationed Calfire planes all out of town or down for maintenance on the same day?
Not even a spotter plane took off.
Usually Sonoma county stationed air units will provide when ours are out of commission…but nothing today.
The Firehawk chopper took off from Ridgewood summit about 30mins after the fire was reported.
“Luckily” the ground crews were all over this one.
VERY close call, especially without the AirTac support.
It was a small grass fire Helitac flew over and was cancelled air attack immediately Why they called for evac on a 1000 homes is beyond me Yes, I lived thru SR fires but 5″ of grass burning and mandatory evac sends the wrong message for any future serious threats
You seem to have some facts entirely wrong that directly undermine your statements.
First off, asking reasonable questions about response times should be appreciated and accepted, especially when the Air Tac response was ENTIRELY different than every other fire so far this year.
(FYI, It’s “Air Tactical” or “AirTac”, not Air Attack.)
Secondly, if it was your business or home in the fire line, you might also be asking questions, particularly IF you had some basic fire education AND were paying attention.
This one could’ve gone far differently.
The fire was, subjectively speaking, “small”, but was on both sides of 101 (and the median) and along Masonite rd,
Almost ALL fires are small when they start.
So much so that many can just be pissed on, IF someone is there, and with their head screwed on tight, before it spreads.
Conditions and response times & level determine if it remains so.
That area is one of the highest concentrations of commercial and industrial properties in the county.
Many jobs and high value within 1/4mi of the origin with great fire growth potential.
Plus, LOTS of concentrated fuel there.
Was right next to and upwind of Mendo Mill and Tri Valley Paints. Both very serious and concentrated fuel sources that could’ve caused great and accelerated spread.
If those caught a full alarm response may not have stopped those facilities from causing massive and toxic spread.
Plus several lumber mills another 1/4mi+ away.
Not at all far for a wind borne fire.
I opened my shop door to a 60+ foot tall gray/black plume of smoke blowing horizontally, because it was held to the ground by the usual strong late afternoon winds pouring out of the Ackerman Creek Canyon.
Heli Tac (the Firehawk) did NOT deploy from Ridgewood for at least 30mins after the first report.
Not within the customary 3-5mins.
This is VERY unusual.
Why?
Was on scene about 40mins after the first report, not the customary 5-20mins, AS DESIGNED & INTENDED by Calfire and OES.
Also, VERY unusual.
Why?
No planes, as is customary.
Also, VERY unusual.
Why?
There was NO evac of a 1000 homes.
The mandatory evac was for the 1800 block of N State ONLY.
From the old Days Inn over to the Platt and GnC Auto Body buildings at Kunzler & a few houses between Kunzler and the 101 next to the old dealership on Ackerman Creek.
That’s a FAR CRY from a 1000 homes.
Do you know what “mandatory evac” and “evac warning” mean? And the difference?
I rate your “crying wolf” claim as unfounded and seriously ill informed.
If you think someone is “crying wolf”, then it’s best that you don’t misstate, misrepresent, and/or embellish the facts and details in order to “try” making that point.
The facts are sufficient for having an informed discussion. Your conflations are not.
Be honest, first and foremost.
Pay close attention, the details matter.
What do you call the guy that states falsehoods in order to try calling someone out for crying wolf?
Ps
That small grass fire was 4.29acres.
Air resources have been deployed for .1-2 acre fires miles outside of towns all year long as standard operating procedure.
I know who you are Non-Fiction. I’m pretty sure. You used to be my neighbor.
The most important thing is that the response time was instant enough for the Fire Department to put out the fire quick enough to not let it spread and burn any structures.
Plus the fire was not big enough to send in the helicopters to dump it out that’ll cost the fire dept. more money.
They do not need that many reports for Cal Fire to respond due to fire season occurring, just one or two phone calls they received regarding a fire, and Cal Fire is on their way.
Not 100% positive but pretty close. I could be wrong.
I just got to say, that was one great rebuttal! Very well said (No sarcasm). I agree, it’s always good to ask questions. I heard the whole thing play out on the scanner. It sounded pretty hectic. But they did get on it pretty quick and really glad they got a handle on it before any structures created a much worse situation.
Thanks to Matt.
AND Thanks to Kym, for backing up Matt while he was out in the field reporting in.
Thank you for your on the scene reporting from the Ukiah fire. (9/3/24)
Need more up dates please
I’m between mendo mill and college walking distance to mendo should I evacuate
Hi, Vicki. It looks like the evac orders have been lifted. I highly recommend installing the Watch Duty app (free for Android and iPhone) for local fire info. I’m signed up for Nixel alerts yet always get a Watch Duty notification before I get a Nixel. It’s free and it shows evacuation warning and mandatory evacuation areas on its map. Really useful! With the free version of the app, you can add up to three general locations (eg: Mendocino County, Lake County, etc) to get incident notifications about. Glad you’re safe and I hope this helps!
You left out the fact the evac orders caused widespread panic over a 1/4 acre 4″ tall grass fire. Seriously?
There was strong wind on that little fire. They were correct in evacuating people who were in the path ahead. You don’t wait to evacuate at the last minute. A little inconvenience but everyone is safe. We (people in the possible path of the fire) were nervous about this fire. Better safe than sorry
Thank you firefighters and for evacuation alerts. Fire potential in windy conditions is very unpredictable. I can’t believe anyone would criticize decisions made in real time conditions on this site. After what happened in town of Paradise and surrounding areas…we should all just feel grateful for early response tactics. Leaving with extra time is better than mad rush when things change. Seriously some people are self appointed judges and not part of the process or doing the work!