Walbridge Fire: Residents Return To 'Moonscape' (PHOTOS)

HEALDSBURG, CA — The Walbridge Fire, part of the North Bay's LNU Lightning Complex blazes and west of Healdsburg, currently stands at 85 percent containment, after leaving nearly 55,000 scorched acres in its wake and causing thousand to flee their homes over the past two-plus weeks.

As the wildfires ebbed in recent days and safety allowed, neighborhoods opened street by street, permitting residents to return home. Among the returning evacuees: one Patch employee in Healdsburg.

Simone Wilson, 33, who typically works from the company's New York City headquarters, opted to quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic with her family at their home in the mountains west of Healdsburg. As the lightning-driven Walbridge Fire sparked and flames neared their residence Aug. 18, Wilson and her family, like many in the region, were ordered to leave.

"We've been evacuated before during previous fire seasons. But it had never gotten this close," she said. "As we were grabbing bins of photos and getting our dog in the car, smoke was already billowing over the ridge, ash was falling and everything was glowing red."

Days later, when the Wilson family eventually was cleared to return to the burn zone, they found their main house survived unscathed, but an adjoining family cabin, rented to a local couple, was destroyed. Many neighboring residences were reduced to rubble. And surrounding forests along Big Ridge Road, near Chemise and West Dry Creek roads, were "completely razed — now a moonscape," she said.

Wilson's photos, below, illustrate the fire's tragic and sweeping destruction inflicted on just one small swath of Sonoma County.

"We're lucky. We still have a place to live," Wilson's 71-year-old mother, Holly, added. "We’re all grieving for the members of our community who are now homeless.”

----------------

Small fires smolder along Chemise Road in mountains west of Healdsburg, during the Walbridge Fire.

---------------

Only a statue was left standing after the Walbridge Fire destroyed a family cabin on Big Ridge Road.

----------------

Heavily forested stretches of Chemise and Big Ridge roads in Sonoma County left barren and unrecognizable in wake of Walbridge Fire.

--------------

Sonoma County resident Holly Wilson, 71, surveys Walbridge Fire devastation along Big Ridge Road.

-----------------

Once heavily forested, some areas left charred and barren by the Walbridge Fire.

--------------

While fires crept to the edges of the Wilson family's home, the house, itself, was spared.

-----------------

Viewing damage left by the Walbridge Fire in area west of Healdsburg.

------------------

Walbridge Fire leaves behind burned trees and forests.

---------------

Trees in the burn zone remain a falling hazard.

-----------------

Big Ridge Road cabin destroyed by Walbridge Fire.

--------------

A cabin on Big Ridge Road was destoyed by Walbridge Fire.

--------------------

Viewing what was once a Big Ridge Road cabin, now reduced to rubble.

------------------

A Big Ridge Road cabin, along with its water tanks, leveled in the Walbridge Fire.

------------------

Sweeping view of destruction left by the Walbridge Fire, west of Healdsburg.

-------------------

Local resident returns to fire-damaged cabin.

-----------------

Clean-up begins after Walbridge Fire.

-------------------

Cabin's charred remains after Walbridge Fire.

-----------------

The Walbridge Fire destroys a cabin that once stood along this lot on Big Ridge Road.

-----------------

The possibility of falling trees looms in Walbridge Fire aftermath.

-------------------

Home's gate along Big Ridge Road suffers fire damage.

----------------

Winding road ravaged by wildfires.

------------------

Scorched forests along Big Ridge and Chemise roads in the wake of the Walbridge Fire.

-------------------

Fire-damaged forests along Big Ridge and Chemise roads in Healdsburg area.

----------------

Wildfire-scorched land in Sonoma County after devastating Walbridge Fire.

----------------

Charred stretch along Big Ridge and Chemise roads following the Walbridge Fire.

-----------------

Danger from falling trees lingers in Walbridge Fire burn zone.

---------------

Scorched forests along Big Ridge and Chemise roads in the wake of the Walbridge Fire.

------------------

Spot fires burn in mountains west of Healdsburg after the Walbridge Fire swept through Sonoma County.

----------------

ALSO SEE:

• Bee Scientist Loses It All In LNU Lightning Fires Near Vacaville
• Fairgrounds Step Up As Base Camp For LNU Lightning Firefighters: PHOTOS
• CZU Lightning Complex Fires: One Day Captured In Eerie Photos