A 50-acre brush fire erupted yesterday along Sonoma County’s coastal Highway 1, forcing the evacuation of Salt Point State Park and shutting a key stretch of the scenic road. The blaze, burning near Timber Cove, brought air and ground crews into a remote but heavily traveled summer destination.
The fire was first reported around 1:43 PM in the 24000 block of Highway 1, according to CAL FIRE. The agency said the Woodside Fire grew from about 15 acres to 50 acres by 3:39 PM, with its cause listed as under investigation.
ABC7 Bay Area reported that officials ordered everyone out of Salt Point State Park as firefighters worked to slow the flames. The evacuation affects a popular stretch of Sonoma coastline that includes campgrounds, beaches and hiking areas.
Firefighters Attack Growing Sonoma Coast Blaze
CAL FIRE listed 85 personnel assigned to the incident, along with 11 engines, two helicopters, four dozers and two hand crews. Numerous air tankers were also flying suppression missions as conditions allowed, underscoring how quickly a relatively small vegetation fire can demand a sizable response in rugged coastal terrain.
The agency identified the incident as the Woodside Fire and said CAL FIRE’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit has jurisdiction. No containment percentage was listed in the latest update.
Highway 1 Closed Between Timber Cove And Stewarts Point
Highway 1 is closed between Timber Cove Road and Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road, according to the CAL FIRE incident page. That closure cuts through one of the only direct coastal routes connecting communities and recreational destinations along northern Sonoma County.
Salt Point State Park typically draws visitors for more than six miles of rugged coastline, forested hills, coves and camping, according to California State Parks. For now, the park evacuation and highway closure remain the immediate practical consequences as crews continue working the fire.
