photo credit: CalFire

July 31, 2026 1 P.M. UPDATE:

A Spare the Air Alert is in effect through tomorrow due to smoke from the Woodside Fire. According to the US. EPA's air quality index, today's air is in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" to "very unhealthy" range for us in the North Bay,

From Timber Cove to east of Santa Rosa, air quality today is at the second-worst level, just behind the 'hazardous' rating. A rating of "unhealthy" means children, older adults, women who are pregnant, and people with respiratory disease like asthma should avoid ALL physical activity outdoors ,everyone else should "limit" physical activity outdoors.

Meanwhile, CalFire says it's crews are working today to keep the fire on the west side of Highway 1, letting it burn down to the ocean through steep terrain.  

July 31, 2026 7 A.M. UPDATE:

CalFire reports crews made "great progress" overnight, with firefighters working through the night with suppression efforts. CalFire reports three helicopters equipped with night-flying capabilities" made strategic water drops on the fire, with an additional helicopter providing aerial supervision." The fire is now at 30% containment, having been remapped at approximately 143 acres. The Bay Area Air District's Spare the Air Alert is in effect due to smoke from the fire, with unhealthy air quality expected in parts of the North Bay.

JULY 30, 2026 8 P.M. UPDATE:

The Woodside Fire sparked early this afternoon south of Salt Point State Park, and within a few hours grew to an estimated 75 acres, prompting evacuation orders and warnings.

CalFire said it has a large response, with firefighters attacking the fire from the air and ground, including engines, hand crews, dozers, water tenders, air tankers and helicopters.

CAL FIRE has ordered night-flying helicopters to continue making water drops after dark.

Eric Hernandez is with, CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.

"Typically, during the evening hour, the temperatures are gonna drop," Hernandez said. "That brings a, a certain amount of moisture into the fire, which allows crews to gain the upper hand...of fires. So that's what we're expecting. However, we're still expecting some winds, so that's obviously a concern as well."

He said one of the challenges is the type of vegetation burning.

"Fighting a fire with heavy timber is a little bit challenging because it's not your typical light flasher fuels where you can just cut line on the ground," Hernandez said. "If the fire gets into the trees and we have crown fires, it could, it start[s to] begins to spot and, create an ember cast. So that's some of the ch.allenges with a fire that's in heavy timber."

The fire is also creating smoke impacts across the region.

"Because it's a wind-driven fire, there's gonna be residents in the Sonoma County area expecting to see and smell smoke over the next couple of hours," Hernandez said. "It's a very poor air quality.

A command post has been established at Woodside Campground.

"Fire is burning in an area that's known for campsite, so that's a good thing," Hernandez said. "It's not a very populated area with a

photo credit: Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
A photograph taken near the Woodside Fire north of Jenner shows 
a large air attack tanker dropping fire retardant on the fast moving blaze burning Thursday afternoon near Highway 1 and the Sonoma Coast near Salt Point State Park.

lot of structures."

The fire has prompted an evacuation order and warning.

Just after 3 p.m., hikers and campers at Salt Point State Park were ordered to evacuate.

Then the surrounding evacuation zone was also ordered to leave...that's SON-1D1
• North of Fort Ross Road
• South of Kruse Ranch Road and Hauser Bridge Road
• East of the coastline
• West of the south fork of the Gualala River

Other areas currently under evacuation orders are
Stillwater Cove Regional Park
Ocean Cove Private Camp and the
Timber Cove Subdivision

The zone directly to the east: SON-1D2 --- IS under an evacuation warning.
That's northwest of Cazadero
• North of Fort Ross Road
• South and West of King Ridge Road
• East of the south fork of the Gualala River

A temporary evacuation center has been established at Laguna High School (formerly known as El Molino) on Covey Road in Forestville.

JULY 30, 2026 5 P.M. UPDATE:

Cal Fire Sonoma Lake Napa Unit reports the Woodside Fire is approximately 75 acres with some short range spotting. The fire is 0% contained, and local wind remains a factor. Cal Fire resources assigned to the fire include four air tankers, three helicopters, 13 fire engines, and five bulldozers, with more resources requested.

A temporary evacuation point has been opened at Laguna High School (formerly El Molino High) 7050 Covey Rd. Forestville, CA. 95436

JULY 30, 2026 4:50 P.M. UPDATE:

Cal Fire crews are currently tackling the quickly growing Woodside Fire burning near Salt Point State Park.

According to Cal Fire, emergency officials have requested all campers and visitors at Salt Point State Park to evacuate. 

The Sonoma County Sheriff has issued evacuation orders for Zone: SON-1D1 & Evacuation Warnings have been requested for Zone: SON-1D2.

Evacuation zone SON-1D1 covers the Sonoma Coast and Highway 1 north of Fort Ross Road, south of Kruse Ranch Road and Hauser Bridge Road, east of the coastline, and west of the south fork of the Gualala River between Kruse Ranch Road and Fort Ross Road.

Zone SON-1D2, which is under an evacuation warning, covers areas northwest of Cazadero north of Fort Ross Road, south and west of King Ridge Road, and east of the south fork of the Gualala River.

The California Highway Patrol has issued a full closure of State Route 1 from Timber Cove Road to Stewarts Point Skaggs Springs Road. According to CHP incident logs, campers at Timber Cove Campground have been asked to shelter in place. CHP is reporting heavy smoke in the area.

The Sonoma County Sheriff is asking residents who wish to report smoke in the area not to call 911. They say emergency personnel are responding to the fire, and that 911 calls to report smoke are inundating the system.

If you need assistance evacuating animals, please contact:

Sonoma CART (small animals and pets): 707-861-0699 
NorCal Livestock Evac (livestock and large animals): 707-234-7193

Pacific Gas & Electric is reporting a power outage in the area affecting 236 customers.

According to Watch Duty the Woodside Fire was reported at 2:09 P.M. Thursday, and has reportedly has grown to around 100 acres as of 4:55 P.M. It is reported to be burning in under story vegetation and some heavy timber, fanned by strong onshore winds. 

A spokesperson for Cal Fire Sonoma Lake Napa Unit said, "resources are at scene. [The fire is] 0% contained. We have air and ground resources [responding] and at scene. Additional resources have been ordered as well and the conditions are reported that it's in heavy timber and winds are a driver of of the fire at this time."