Fire In Sonoma: Mandatory Evacuations Lifted; Roads Still Closed

SONOMA, CA — Authorities have lifted mandatory evacuation orders that were in effect Tuesday when a three-alarm fire at a Sonoma pallet company was burning out of control. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said just after 1 p.m. that everyone living or working within a half-mile radius of 1180 Fremont Drive in Sonoma "must evacuate now."

"If you are not in the area, please avoid the area to let emergency workers respond," sheriff's officials said.

Those evacuations were lifted by the sheriff's office just before 3 p.m. Road closures remained in effect on 8th Street East at Schellville Road; Watmaugh Road at Broadway; Watmaugh Road at Napa/Burndale Road; and 8th Street East at Fremont.

Fremont Drive is in the Schellville area, just northeast of where state Highways 12 and 121 meet.

"There is not a shelter in place order. There is a mandatory evacuation within a half-mile," a dispatcher said earlier.

The fire at Sonoma Pacific Co. was first reported at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Callers reported the fire was "explosive," with "propane tanks" involved, according to CHP dispatch logs.

"Avoid (State Highway 121) at all costs," said CHP Officer Marc Renspurger.

Highway 121 traffic was being diverted at Napa Road, according to CHP.

Nearly five years ago, in September 2013, a fire broke out a pallet factory in the same area and scorched 40 acres.

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