Woodward Fire: 2,739 Acres Burned, 5% Contained In Marin County

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A wildfire continued to spread in Point Reyes National Seashore, prompting officials to issue evacuation orders and expand evacuation warning areas in Marin County.

The Woodward Fire had blackened 2,739 acres and remained 5 percent contained as of Tuesday morning, according to the National Park Service. No structures have been damaged, but about 1,620 structures are threatened. Three firefighters have suffered minor injuries.

"I know this is challenging. I know yesterday was discouraging," Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber said during a news briefing Tuesday. "We're getting some favorable weather and we're still not seeing the progress we'd like. This fuel is extremely challenging. Some of the areas we are working have no recorded fire history."

The blaze continues to burn northeast toward the town of Point Reyes Station, according to the National Park Service. The fire is expected to spread south toward the Wildcat Campground and easterly toward Five Brooks Horse Camp.

A total of 236 firefighting personnel were assigned to the fire Tuesday morning, including seven fire crews, plus 19 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.

The Incident Command Post and Basecamp were in the process of being relocated to 5800 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in San Geronimo, the former site of San Geronimo Golf Course. Officials said the firefighting team outgrew the previous site, and the larger space will help firefighters and support staff follow social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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, according to the National Park Service.

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."

An evacuation center was established at the Marin Center, near the Civic Center. Check-in is in the front parking lot.

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.

"We ask if we issue these evacuation warnings that you be prepared when we issue the orders — that you leave," Weber said. "We have very limited resources across the state. If we have to make an investment in getting people out when it's too late, it's going to take away from our ability to fight those fires, which challenges us."

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 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:

• 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