Fire In Healdsburg Contained At 13 Acres

HEALDSBURG, CA — UPDATE: About 50 firefighters with Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation remained at the scene Friday of a wildfire that broke out Thursday in unincorporated Healdsburg, briefly threatening about 10-12 homes, a Cal Fire official told Patch.

"Firefighters are still in the area today and may be there tonight," Cal Fire Battalion Chief Marshall Turbeville told Patch. "We have two fire engines out there and two Cal Fire inmate crews."

According to Turbeville, the blaze outside Healdsburg city limits was 13 acres in size, with a main fire of about 9.25 acres and a second, smaller blaze of about 3.75 acres.

The battalion chief was not aware of any structure damage or loss.

"No building loss, but we are still working on the fire," Turbeville said.

The fire erupted at about 1:40 p.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of Westside Road and burned uphill toward homes on Madrona Knolls Road, Turbeville said.

Most residents of Madrona Knolls saw the flames and self-evacuated, he said.

"It was a dynamic situation as it unfolded," Turbeville said.

But the homes were spared and mandatory evacuations for Madrona Knolls Road were lifted by about 5 p.m. Thursday, he said.

Multiple air tankers were utilized, and many neighboring fire and law enforcement agencies responded, he said.

By about 9:45 p.m. Thursday, the fire was reportedly 75-percent contained.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation Friday.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Forward progression of a vegetation fire that broke out Thursday afternoon in unincorporated Healdsburg, prompting mandatory evacuations for some residents, has been stopped, city officials said at 3:32 p.m. The 13-acre fire in the area of West Dry Creek Road and Westside Road, west of Madrona Manor, was first reported at about 1:40 p.m. and was producing dark smoke visible from Windsor.

Mandatory evacuations were issued for Madrone Knolls Road, Healdsburg Fire Department officials said at about 2:35 p.m. Thursday. Healdsburg city officials sent an emergency alert at 2:49 p.m. advising the affected residents of about a dozen homes to evacuate via Madrone Knolls Road to Westside Road.

At 5:30 p.m., however, city officials said all mandatory evacuation orders were lifted.

Crews from Healdsburg, Cal Fire, Santa Rosa, Windsor, Forestville and Geyserville all responded to the blaze.

Firefighters remained at the scene overnight, according to city of Healdsburg officials.

Residents and motorists were asked to "please stay away from the area."

CHP reported road closures were in place at Westside Road and Kinley Drive and at Westside Road and Mill Creek Road.

A Sonoma sheriff's official said the blaze just outside Healdsburg was about 5-10 acres in size.

"Cal Fire reported they have a good handle on the situation," sheriff's Sgt. D. Thompson said. "All who needed to evacuate have self evacuated. Heavy smoke may be seen to the north. Cal Fire is asking everyone who doesn't need to be there to stay away as they have a lot of equipment on scene and roads are impacted. Sheriff's deputies on scene to manage any further evacuations."

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch