Woodside Fire prompts evacuations, Highway 1 closures along Sonoma County coast
Woodside Fire burning near Sonoma County coast, closing Highway 1
A fire in Sonoma County has shut down a portion of Highway 1 Thursday afternoon and forced evacuations at Salt Point State Park. Highway 1 is closed as of 3:24 p.m. between Stewarts Point - Skaggs Springs Road and Timber Cover Road, CAL FIRE said.
SONOMA, Calif. - A wildfire burning along the Sonoma County coast prompted evacuations and road closures Thursday as firefighters worked to slow its spread.
The Woodside Fire has also created air smoky enough to warrant a Spare the Air alert, effective immediately through Friday and a health advisory in Sonoma County.
The fire, which burned about 140 acres and was 30% contained Friday morning, was reported around 1:43 p.m. near Timber Cove and had grown to 75 acres, according to the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.
Fire officials said the blaze is being driven by wind and is burning through heavy timber.
Evacuations and Highway 1 closures
What we know:
Evacuation orders have been issued for Salt Point State Park, Steelwater Cove Regional Park, Ocean Cove private campground, Timber Cove subdivision and now SON-1D1.
Highway 1 was closed between Timber Road and Stewarts Point due to the fire.
The cause of the Woodside Fire remains under investigation.
Smoky air
The Bay Area Air District's Spare the Air alert means wood burning is prohibited for affected areas, and you should also protect your health by staying indoors. Friday's air quality forecast shows levels of particulate matter that are unhealthy for sensitive groups in the Northern Zone, east of the fire, including Petaluma, Napa and Vallejo.
"People with asthma, heart or lung disease, older adults and young children should limit prolonged outdoor activity if smoke becomes noticeable," KTVU Meteorologist Roberta Gonzales said. "Everyone can help reduce pollution by limiting driving, avoiding backyard burning and postponing the use of gas-powered lawn equipment."
The Sonoma County Health Officer issued a health advisory due to the poor air quality caused by the fire. They said people in the area may experience "unhealthy or very unhealthy air quality."
They said if you are not in an evacuation zone that you should shelter in place to avoid the poor air quality.
"Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to recirculate. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside," officials from Sonoma County said in their statement.
Marin County Fire said the Woodside Fire smoke drifted into their county. "Sensitive individuals should limit outdoor exposure, keep doors and windows closed," they posted on social media."
The Source: This story was written based on information from the CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.