Walbridge Fire Update Monday 10AM

Share with Friends

54,068 Acres 5% Containment
Meyers 2360 Acres 95% Containment

WALBRIDGE BEHAVIOR OVERNIGHT

The dry lightning and thunderstorms predicted for the area mostly bypassed the North Bay, with a lobe of former Hurricane Genevieve’s remnant moisture instead tracking into the central valley. There were lightning strikes near the SNU complex that set off small new fires southeast of San Jose, but Solano County was the closest area to Sonoma County that experienced active strikes. Overnight the fire grew slowly in several directions, but the dangerous spotting that was feared generally failed to materialize. Winds were moderate over the fire area, at observing stations on hills reaching maximum gusts of around 25-30mph, however most winds were lighter. The fire was active along the ridge above Rio Nido, where it was reportedly on both sides of the Mt. Jackson Resort Rd about two miles from the river community. A big push to drop retardant in that area and build dozer lines will likely continue today, with hand crews helping in steep terrain. The good news is that backing winds are expected to resume from the south southwest and should help impede the fire’s progress to the south. Guerneville is less of a concern to Cal Fire as the winds are expected to continue keeping the fire at a distance. However it continues to back downhill into the canyons north of town including along Sweetwater Springs Road where the fire is close to the old mercury mine buildings.
To the north the fire showed minimal growth overnight, with dozer lines being established around the upper Chemise Road area and to the north.

SOUTHEAST

Satellie fire detection maps showed the most active fire in this area along creek drainages south of Mill Creek Road in the Felta Creek area. Fire was also active along Sweetwater Springs Road west of Westside Road. Fire was also active along the Mt. Jackson Resort Road above Rio Nido where the Walbridge Fire is closest to the Russian River communities.

NORTHEAST

Near the Dry Creek Valley the fire was most active where it has been for days, along and near Big Ridge Road and north of Chemise Road into the Pena Creek area, roughly in the hills west of Lambert Bridge Road on the south and Yoakim Bridge Road to the north.

NORTHWEST

Fire camera and satellite detection showed the fire was active in the NW sector south of the Stewarts Pt Skaggs Springs Rd. and generally west of Warm Springs Creek.

RESOURCES

Mutual Aid resources continued to stream into the area, including crews from throughout California and several western states. As these crews are released from fire lines elsewhere the number of engines and crews will be growing daily. As of Monday approximately 2000 firefighting personnel were involved in the entire LNU complex according to Cal Fire. If the inversion clears, Cal Fire will be directing air resources to the active parts of the fire today. On Sunday a regional inversion kept smoke trapped close to the ground and prevented most aerial firefighting efforts. This is also what gave us unhealthful air throughout the region.

OUTLOOK

There is good news here, as weather forecasters expect winds to continue light to moderate from the south or southwest which may help keep the fire away from the main Russian River communities. A final slug of tropical moisture from the south may move over the area late on Monday, but forecasters do not believe it will bring widespread thundershowers or instability. With the high pressure system that has dominated our weather weakening, temperatures will slowly begin to moderate. Also, a developing trough along the west coast will help to reestablish the coastal marine layer which is expected to increasingly push inland bringing cooler air and higher humidity values to more of the Walbridge Fire area over the coming days.

This map from Sonoma Water (not the official Cal Fire map) uses satellite data to estimate fire activity.