An afternoon wildfire near Hopland went from a local brush fire to a 500-acre evacuation emergency in roughly two hours yesterday, putting nearby homes, vineyards, power lines and Highway 101 travelers on alert. The Feliz Fire was still listed at 0% containment in the latest update, with no reported structural damage or civilian injuries.
The blaze started around 3:40 PM off Feliz Creek Road, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Mendocino County officials ordered people out of the MEN-2HOP04 zone, an area that includes homes and businesses in Hopland along with several vineyards and wineries, while the neighboring MEN-2UKV29 zone was placed under an evacuation order.
Evacuation Zones And Road Access Draw Attention
For residents trying to determine whether they are in the fire’s path, MendoReady’s emergency page says the county’s live map is used for evacuation orders, shelters and road closures. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office also directs residents to Everbridge and Nixle for emergency notifications.
Air Tankers And Helicopters Join Ground Crews
Ground resources included engines and hand crews digging fire lines, while two helicopters dropped water and four air tankers dropped retardant, according to the Chronicle’s report. The Sonoma-Lake-Napa CAL FIRE unit, Hopland Fire Protection District, Ukiah Valley Fire Authority and neighboring agencies were assisting, with more agencies expected today. Highway 101 remained open as of Saturday evening, while CHP closed Feliz Creek Road but allowed people to exit; the cause was still under investigation.
