Woodward Fire Prompts Evacuation Orders In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Fire crews on Monday continued to work to contain a wildfire that has scorched nearly 2,500 acres and prompted evacuation orders in Point Reyes National Seashore.

The Woodward Fire had blackened 2,487 acres and was 5 percent contained as of Monday morning. No structures have been damaged, but about 1,620 structures are threatened, according to the Marin County Fire Department. Three firefighters have suffered minor injuries.

The fire continues to burn in hilly and remote terrain south of Limantour Road, north of the Bear Valley Trail, and west of Shoreline Highway, also known as state Route 1. Fire crews have successfully cleared fire breaks and small brush along Limantour Road to reduce fire activity along the blaze's northeastern boundary. Air and ground crews have also started to set a direct fire line from Arch Rock on the coast inland along Bear Valley to secure the southeast boundary.

A total of 228 firefighting personnel were assigned to the fire Monday morning, including five fire crews, 17 engines, five helicopters and two water-scooping planes.

The North Bay Incident Management Team on Sunday transitioned fire management activities to the Northern Rockies National Incident Management Team.

"Having the Incident Management Team here is a relief for us that have been here since last week. They bring a lot of talent, a lot of resources," Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber said during Monday's news briefing.

"The state is still extremely drawn down," he added. "So we are challenged with the number of resources that are available."

The Incident Command Post and Basecamp are being relocated Monday to 5800 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in San Geronimo, the former site of San Geronimo Golf Course, due to the original base camp location at the Point Reyes National Seashore Visitor Center in Olema falling in the evacuation warning area of the Woodward Fire.

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.

Evacuation Orders and Warnings

Evacuation orders were issued Monday evening for Silverhills Road, Fox Drive and Noren Way south of Inverness Park.

"You need to evacuate immediately," the Marin County Sheriff's Office said in an alert. "Evacuate down Sir Francis Drake Boulevard toward Point Reyes. Please be mindful of firefighting resources as you are evacuating."

The Sheriff's Office advised residents to use "alternative means of lodging" if available.

"We encourage utilizing those resources," the Sheriff's Office said. "An evacuation center has been established at the Marin Center, near the Civic Center. There will be a check-in location in the front parking lot and staff there to assist you."

Evacuation warnings were expanded to 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.

View an interactive map of evacuation order and warning areas.

Closures

The National Park Service on Friday closed Point Reyes National Seashore until further notice due to the Woodward Fire. All park roads and trails have been closed. Backpack and boat-in campground operations have also been suspended.

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

Air and Weather Conditions

Smoke from the fire continues to spread over Marin and San Francisco counties. The National Weather Service has called off a red flag warning after a storm has moved northward, decreasing weather instability in the Bay Area.

Also see:

• 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: 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