UPDATE: Wildfires Prompt New Evacuation Orders In Rural West Sonoma County
SONOMA COUNTY (CBS SF) -- Evacuation orders were expanded in western Sonoma County Tuesday afternoon because of separate fires in a rural area in the hills west of Healdsburg, according to county officials.
The fires have been added to the group of lightning-caused wildfires in the North Bay called the LNU Lightning Complex fires.
New mandatory evacuations as of 4 p.m. include areas:
- West of Meyers Grade Road to the coast
- South of Fort Ross Road
- North of the intersection of Meyers Grade Road at Highway 1
Evacuation orders were already in place:
- North of Austin Creek Recreational Area
- East of The Cedars
- Mill Creek Road west of the intersection of Puccioni Road
- South of Stewarts Point Skaggs Springs Road
In addition, officials announced several school districts in Sonoma County will be closed on Wednesday because of the fires and evacuations. They are:
- Monte Rio
- Guerneville
- Ft. Ross
- Kashia-Rancheria
- Montgomery
Parents were being asked to consult their school district's website for new updates.
County officials initially posted an evacuation warning at around 12:40 p.m. The Sonoma County Sheriff also tweeted about the fire. A Nixle alert was issued shortly before 1 p.m.
THIS IS NOW A WILDFIRE EVACUATION ORDER
— County of Sonoma (@CountyofSonoma) August 18, 2020
An evacuation ORDER has been issued for the following area:
•North of Austin Creek Recreational Area
•East of The Cedars
•West of end of Mill Creek Rd.
•South of Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Rd
Grab your bag and evacuate now. https://t.co/p8KR6aO2Ea pic.twitter.com/4hERxw3Mhh
The Santa Rosa Fire Department Twitter account also posted about the fire, reassuring residents that it was not threatening Austin Creek in Skyhawk or the city of Santa Rosa.
The Wireless Emergency Alert received by Santa Rosa residents is for a fire in West Sonoma County. It is NOT related to Austin Creek in Skyhawk and NOT threatening the City of Santa Rosa.
— Santa Rosa Fire Department (@SantaRosaFire) August 18, 2020
Go to https://t.co/FUO1G8zPOV for information from the County of Sonoma. pic.twitter.com/C8xGcGZ9me