Sonoma County fires grow; winds expected Friday

A quick look at overnight and early morning news about the five active fires in Sonoma County plus news from Mendocino, Lake and other North Bay counties.

8:10 a.m.

Firefighters continue to see improvements in the battles in Napa County with almost 30 percent containment on the Atlas fire, now estimated at 48,228 acres, according to Cal Fire.

The fire Thursday was about 44,000 acres and 3 percent contained.

The Partrick fire burning in western Napa County, was at 12,379 acres and 18 percent contained, up from Thursday’s estimate of 10,800 acres and 2 percent containment.

Officials have said the increased sizes involved both the fire’s spread and more accurate mapping.

8:03 a.m.

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, announced Friday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has suspended all noncriminal immigration enforcement operations at wildfire evacuation sites or shelters due.

The suspension is in response to the devastating fires that continue to burn throughout the North Bay and the North Coast.

Rep. Huffman urges all residents, regardless of immigration status, to seek shelter and follow public safety and evacuation warnings, without any threat of action by ICE.

7:45 a.m.

Mendocino County’s ongoing blaze held steady during the night at 34,000 acres with 10 percent containment, according to Cal Fire officials early Friday.

Firefighters on the Redwood fire, burning in Redwood and Potter valleys, are improving defensive lines but the fire continued burning in multiple directions and still threatened several communities. Like their counterparts working in the hills above Geyserville and along the Mayacamas Mountains near Sonoma, firefighters at the Redwood fire are working in inaccessible terrain with narrow drainage areas and steep canyons.

Eight people have been found dead in the Redwood fire and as of Friday, 1,000 homes and other structures remained threatened.

The Sulphur fire near Clearlake in Lake County Friday was 55 percent contained and held to 2,500 acres.

7:30 a.m.

The City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County are establishing a Local Assistance Center, a one-stop location where those affected by the Sonoma County fires can go for essential resources and assistance.

Representatives from city, county, state and federal agencies will be available.

Residents and business operators can prepare by collecting any personal documentation and paperwork they may have available, such as insurance policy numbers, birth certificates, driver’s license, social security card, passport, veterans’ information, etc.

It is helpful to have this information available but not required in order to receive assistance. Please continue to check here for details.

6:30 a.m.

Weather conditions helped firefighting efforts overnight but a red flag warning remained in effect for Friday night due to increasing winds. Temperatures Saturday were expected to soar another 10 degrees or so, into the upper 80s.

Overnight

Five fires burning in Sonoma County and parts of Napa County grew incrementally Thursday night and in some areas moved aggressively, but firefighters’ containment of them increased overnight, according to Cal Fire early Friday.

The Tubbs fire, which has devastated large areas of Santa Rosa and killed 17 there and destroyed more than 2,800 homes, burned during the night along its northern edge stretching into Lake County and along its eastern flank, with spot fires cropping up south of control lines. That fire is almost 35,000 acres and 25 percent containment.

The Pocket fire in the hills high above Geyserville was pushing on its southern and eastern edges, fueled by steep slopes and dry brush. That fire was estimated at almost 10,000 acres with 5 percent containment.

Problems in the Nuns-Norrbom fire in Sonoma Valley, stretching into Napa County along the Mayacamas range, included active firefights in the higher areas, pushed by a northwest wind, officials said. That fire was around 44,400 acres and 5 percent contained.

Friday about 12:30 a.m. officials issued a new advisory evacuation notice for areas west of Highway 29 between Oakville Grade and Rutherford Road.

Mandatory evacuations in the area already are in place for west of Dry Creek Road between Oakville Grade and Redwood Road.

Fire still burning in the highest elevations also remained an issue in the Adobe fire, which stretches from Kenwood through Trione-Annadel State Park, the edges of Oakmont and the hills above Bennett Valley. It remained at 7,500 acres with 1 percent containment.