WALBRIDGE UPDATES: Size, Location and Thermal Imaging

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WALBRIDGE FIRE KEY LOCATIONS THURSDAY PM

LNU Complex 215 Thousand Acres as of Thursday PM
Walbridge Fire 20 Thousand Acres Thursday PM, 0 percent containment
Meyers Fire 3 Thousand Acres and holding

The information below has been compiled from the evening Cal Fire briefing, scanner updates, reliable law enforcement sources and direct observation.

Views from NASA Imaging Satellites show the approach of fire activity to Guerneville, Westside Road, and Lake Sonoma. Updated information on Walbridge Fire location below.

Westside Road

The fire has moved significantly down the Mill Creek and Felta Creek drainages toward Westside road on the east. Many structures have been lost as the fire moved down Mill Creek Road and the Mill Creek drainage. By late afternoon the flames were reported at the 3400 block of Big Ridge Road, northwest of Healdsburg and about 2 miles west of the Dry Creek Valley. Cal Fire reports firefights have been occurring as the fire moves east down Mill Creek, Big Ridge and Chemise Roads. This along with the north side of the fire near Lake Sonoma is the most active part of the fire.

Guerneville and Rio Nido

According to Cal Fire, this area of the blaze is less active than the eastern side of the fire west of Dry Creek Valley. The Walbridge Fire’s south flank is extending southeast, and has crossed into Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve and has established near Sweetwater Springs Road. It has crossed Sweetwater in places, but mostly being held as of late Thursday. It is moving slowly into the Porter Creek drainage. It has reportedly established itself on Mt. Jackson north of Rio Nido. Bulldozers are working to establish fire lines on Pool Ridge according to reports, and from there to Mt. Jackson and east to Westside Road. Cal Fire believes the fire may eventually threaten the Guernewood Park area near Old Cazadero Road. Also according to Cal Fire’s Ben Nicholls, if the fire passes over Mt. Jackson and moves south toward Rio Nido, the effort may transition to structure defense. Law enforcement is checking residences to insure people have evacuated. Due to the fire’s southeast movement, evacuation warnings (not orders as of yet) were issued for the Forestville Area. The Cazadero area is on the less intense edge of the fire, which is generally moving away with prevailing NW to SE winds.

Austin Creek State Recreation Area

On its southwestern flank the Walbridge has enered the Austin Creek Recreation Area and the northern part of Armstrong Redwoods State Preserve. Its path continues to be away from areas to the west and is headed in a roughly southeastern direction. According to Cal Fire, the path of the fire is taking it away from the Cazadero area at this time, also fire activity generally on the west side of the fire is far less intense than on the east side at present.

Lake Sonoma

To the north the Walbridge has merged with the Stewarts Fire, and on Thursday large air tankers have been attacking fire activity near Lake Sonoma. Spot fires have been attacked as they spread north. A top priority has been to attack the northeastern corner of the fires before it can reach the upper Dry Creek Valley. The Stewarts Pt Skaggs Springs Road marks the approximate northern boundary of the fire that crews have been struggling to hold.