This one is starting to take on a life if it’s own so it should have it’s own thread. Affected area is Austin Creek Recreation Area. We’re talking from Armstrong Woods State Park in Guerneville north to Skaggs Spring Rd West to Jenner and East to Dry Creek.
There is no acreage listed as it oddly does not show up on the CalFire incident list. A second fire, named 11-5 after the engine company who reported it, near Fort Ross/Seaview is also burning adding to the smoke.
Nixle just came through advising mandatory evacuation of all residents within the above mentioned zone.
East of Austin creek (the creek itself) South of Stewart’s Point/Skaggs Springs Rd. West of Westside Rd and North of Sweetwater Springs Rd.
Zones 2E1, 2E2, 2E3 and 2E4 on the map. Click image to blow up.
In wine talk we’re talking West and north of Rochioli, West of Dry Creek Valley from West Dry Creek Rd, East of Hirsch and South of Skaggs Springs.
Kinda close to home as I’m in Mirabel Park at the bottom of the map. But safe for now.
The smoke is black and thick and moving South. This evening we have a growing blanket of ash in West County (Forestville) and the sun just now sank below the smoke line and began the shine again.
Looking North from my place that is Mt Jackson just beyond the Oak and Madrones. That is the southern edge of the evacuation zone. Click image for blow up.
Aaand the evacuation zone grows yet again. Just as we were sitting down to eat dinner. Now my Wife is getting nauseous and is going to bed to lie down. We were sitting down to eat last year when the evacuation texts and phone calls started coming in. WTF with the timing here?
This is a lot different from the past fires. This was caused by lightning and there’s no wind issues involved. Fire has to come a long way to reach our place. The evacuations are in place because the areas are fairly remote and it’s mostly one way in and out so they’re better off evacuating now rather than if/when fire comes closer.
We can evac to the South or East In multiple routes so I think the current set of evacuations are precautionary. Doesn’t keep me without one eye open all night though.
Just left our Sonoma rental a day early since we were being rained on with ash from the Napa fires. Driving home we saw the smoke billowing up from this fire set against the orange sunset and it looked crazy. Then as we roll into the woodside redwood city area you could literally see one of the santa cruz mountains fires reflecting off the smokey clouds above it, it was this evil hellish red orange color in the sky. Never seen anything like it before.