Woodside Fire Forces Evacuations, Air Quality Alert Around North Bay

NORTH BAY, CA — Authorities evacuated areas from Jenner to Salt Point State Park and closed a stretch of Highway 1 Thursday as firefighters battled the fast-growing Woodside blaze.

The wind-driven vegetation fire burned through heavy timber near on the Sonoma Coast and forced immediate evacuations.

The fire scorched roughly 143 acres and was 20% contained as of midnight, according to Cal Fire. The cause is still being investigated.

The Woodside Fire broke out about 1:43 p.m. along the Sonoma County coast near Highway 1, north of Jenner and Fort Ross.

The fire quickly spread from 15 to 100 acres as of 5:45 p.m. as winds pushed the flames through dense forest.

Sonoma County officials issued air quality warnings as smoke filled the sky around the North Bay Thursday afternoon and evening.

Areas of Sonoma County may experience "very unhealthy" or hazardous" air quality caused by the wildfire event along the coast near Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park, Sonoma County authorities warned, urging residents to shelter in place if they were not in one of the areas evacuated.

"People may experience adverse health effects from the smoke over Sonoma County and across the region. Below are some things you can do when the air quality is poor."

Fire officials ordered the evacuation of all of Salt Point State Park because of the fire.

Several areas in Jenner were evacuated, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

An evacuation order was issued for two zones.

Zone 1D1, which includes Salt Point State Park and Timber Cove:

• North of Fort Ross Road
• South of Kruse Ranch Road and Hauser Bridge Road
• East of the coastline
• West of the South Fork of the Gualala River

An evacuation warning was also been issued for Zone 1D2, which includes the area northwest of Cazadero:

• North of Fort Ross Road
• South and west of King Ridge Road
• East of the South Fork of the Gualala River

"Leave immediately using available routes and follow instructions from emergency personnel. If you have time, check with your neighbors to make sure they are aware of the evacuation order," the Sonoma County sheriff's office said in a statement.

"If you feel unsafe, evacuate immediately," the sheriff's office warned.

The first reports were from the 24000 block of Highway 1 in Timber Cove at approximately 3 acres, according to Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.

Fire officials said additional resources were immediately ordered as crews responded to the wind-driven vegetation fire that burned in an area with heavy timber.

Authorities closed Highway 1 between Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road and Timber Cove Road while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

Cal Fire LNU urged motorists to avoid the area and use caution if traveling along the Sonoma Coast as firefighting operations continue.

No injuries, damaged structures, or cause of the fire had been reported Thursday afternoon. Firefighters remained on scene, and evacuation orders and road closures could change as conditions evolve.