Walbridge Fire Update Tuesday 10AM

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Walbridge Fire Update 10AM

54,503 Acres, 17% Containment
Meyers Fire 2360 Acres, 97% Containment

FIRE BEHAVIOR

The fire generally kept within its boundaries during the past 24 hours with containment rising from 0 to 17 percent. Growth in that 24 hours was only about 500 acres. Along certain perimeters the fire crept forward, including east along Mill Creek and other eastward flowing drainages like Felta Creek in the southeast part of the fire. North of Guerneville, the fire entered the main grove area of Armstrong Redwoods Reserve around 3:30PM Monday and was burning overnight as a low intensity fire being monitored by fire crews at the scene. Although fire was lapping across their bases, no major loss of redwoods was antificipated. Structures in the park were being protected by fire retardant spray. Fire activity mapping by satellite showed the fire most active in the area between Mill and Felta Creeks, in the Mt. Jackson area north of Rio Nido, and on the western perimeter near Warm Springs Creek south of Lake Sonoma.

SOUTHEAST

To the west of Westside Road and generally in the Felta Creek and Mill Creek drainages the fire was moving slowly east, but crews were protecting structures. The fire was observed around homes in the 3000 block of Mill Creek Road and in lobes further down the hill but structure protection was ongoing as the fire crept forward.

SOUTH

The focus remains keeping the fire out of the Russian River communities. Where it is making the closest approach continues to be along the Mt. Jackson Resort Road where crews have been digging dozer lines and dropping retardant and water. This effort is helped by winds that have been variable during the day, but generally from the south or southwest blowing the fire to the north. So fire active here has been “backing” with less intensity. In the Armstrong Redwoods Reserve, a low intensity fire has moved into the valley portion of the park, having been present for days on the hillside above in the Bullfrog Pond and campground area. Crews are monitoring it here and protection valuable resources, both natural and man-made.

NORTH

In the north winds in the morning Monday allowed backfiring activities to take place along Stewarts Pt. Skaggs Springs Road and little forward growth of the fire took place. To the west in the vicinity of Warm Springs Creek there was growth but crews were protecting structures in the area and generally onshore winds in the afternoon would be pushing more fire activity away from the coast.

RESOURCES

In the past 48 hours additional fire crews from throughout California and other western states swelled the number of firefighters on the lines in the entire LNU complex to well over 2000 with more arriving daily. This, along with light winds is helping crews expand and hold the containment lines.

OUTLOOK

The weather outlook is positive with light winds from the south forecast for the next several days. A deeper marine layer will be forming and penetrating further inland during the night and morning hours, causing humidity levels to rise which moderates fire behavior, especially below 1200 feet. However a morning inversion will continue to hold smoke near the ground and hamper aerial firefighting efforts.

REPOPULATION

Cal Fire and Sonoma County will begin repopulation of evacuated zones today or tomorrow. NNB will report these on its social media and website but be sure to check socoemergency.org for details as this several day process takes place.