Woodward Fire Now 8% Contained In Point Reyes National Seashore

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The Woodward Fire in Point Reyes National Seashore continues to spread but containment has also grown as more resources help battle the blaze.

As of Thursday morning, the fire has burned 2,860 acres and is 8 percent contained, fire officials said. No structures have been damaged, but about 2,705 structures are threatened. Three firefighters have suffered minor injuries since the fire sparked last week amid a scorching heat wave.

Fire activity increased Wednesday afternoon with tree torching in the northwest and fire backing down the slopes on the east side, according to Northern Rockies National Incident Management Team 2. Air resources were mostly grounded due to poor visibility but were able to assist in the firefight for a short time later in the day. Several spot fires sparked across the Bear Valley Trail but crews in the area quickly secured the area.

The blaze continues to spread northeast toward the Marin County town of Point Reyes Station, officials said. The fire is expected to continue to spread south toward the Wildcat Campground and easterly toward Five Brooks Horse Camp.

A total of 428 firefighting personnel were assigned to the fire Thursday morning, including 12 fire crews, 19 engines, five helicopters, two dozers, four masticators and two planes. Crews continue to reinforce containment lines and build additional contingency lines.

The fire, ignited by lightning, sparked Aug. 18 just south of the Woodward Trail, a few miles west of the Bear Valley Visitor Center in Olema and about a mile inland from Limantour Beach. The fire is expected to be fully contained by Sept. 8, officials said.

Evacuation Orders and Warnings

Evacuation orders remain in effect for Silverhills Road, Fox Drive and Noren Way south of Inverness Park. An evacuation center is located at the Marin Center, near the Civic Center.

Deputies are actively patrolling the evacuated areas throughout the day and night, Marin County sheriff's Sgt. Brenton Schneider said.

Evacuation warnings remain in place for the following areas:

• Highway 1 at the Greenbridge (Lagunitas Creek) south to the intersection of Highway 1 and Sir Francis Drake (southern intersection in Olema)
• Sir Francis Drake to the top of Olema Hill (everything north of Sir Francis Drake)
• Everything between the above intersections to the east to Olema Hill and west of Highway 1.

"We are constantly in conversations about warnings and whether to lift warnings or orders and whether to reduce those," Schneider said during Wednesday's news briefing. "Know that those conversations are taking place, but we won't make that determination until we've considered everything that could happen with the fire and we're comfortable that it would not happen."

View an interactive map of evacuation order and warning areas.

Closures

Point Reyes National Seashore remains closed until further notice due to the Woodward Fire. All park roads and trails are closed. Backpack and boat-in campground operations are also suspended.

Limantor Road remains closed. Coastal traffic is limited to local residents only.

Air Conditions

Smoke from the fire continues to spread over Marin and San Francisco counties and has contributed to air quality alerts in the region.

Also see:

• Favorable Weather Helps Crews Battle Woodward Fire In Marin
• Woodward Fire: 2,739 Acres Burned, 5% Contained In Marin County
• Firefighters Rescued From Fast-Moving Woodward Fire In Marin
• Point Reyes National Seashore Closed Due To Woodward Fire
• Wildfire Smoke Prompts Health Advisory In Marin County
• Woodward Fire Prompts Evacuation Orders In Marin County
• Woodward Fire: 2,259 Acres Burned, 5% Contained In Marin County
• Air Support Arrives To Help Fight Woodward Fire In Marin County
• Woodward Fire Burns 1,100 Acres In Point Reyes National Seashore
• Woodward Fire Prompts Evacuation Warning In West Marin