Firefighters Battling 700-Acre Fire In Point Reyes National Seashore; Evacuation Warning Issued
POINT REYES (CBS SF) - Firefighters in Marin County on Tuesday were battling a 700-acre wind-whipped wildfire burning in a remote part of Point Reyes National Seashore, according to officials.
The so-called 'Woodward Fire' prompted an evacuation warning for coastal West Marin residents living west of Shoreline Highway (State Route 1) between Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Olema south to Bolinas.
Residents can go to an evacuation center at West Marin School in Point Reyes.
The fire was first reported at 4:27 p.m. Marin County Fire Department tweeted at around 5 p.m. that the fire had burned an approximately seven-acre area adjacent to the Woodward Trail and noted that access to the area was difficult.
The blaze grew more quickly after the winds increased to 40 m.p.h. By 9 p.m. the fire had scorched an estimated 700 acres.
Smoke from the fire was rising high into the sky and impacting residents of West Marin. Residents were advised not to all 911 because they smelled smoke.
New Fire "4-6 Fire" Point Reyes National Seashore (Smoke impacts to West Marin)
— Marin County Fire (@marincountyfire) August 19, 2020
MCFD is responding a 50 acre fire in the Point Reyes National Seashore "4-5 Fire" Adjacent to the Woodward Trail. Difficult access. No Structure threat, no evacuation orders. Trail closures to PRNSS. pic.twitter.com/nmThILl6f1
So far, no structures were threatened and no evacuations orders are in place.
There is official word as to how the fire started but lightning is suspected.
On Monday, a wildfire forced the closure of dozens of trails.
"Until further notice, the area west of Bear Valley Trail and south and east of Limantour Road is closed to all entry until further notice," said officials from the National Park Service on the Pt. Reyes website.