Kincade Fire mandatory evacuations hit Russian River towns through to Jenner, Bodega Bay

Large portions of Sonoma County are now under mandatory evacuation orders due to the expanding Kincade Fire. The latest evacuation orders were issued about 6:15 p.m. Saturday, and extend beyond the greater Windsor-Healdsburg area all the way west to the Pacific Ocean.

This round of mandatory evacuations empties out most of the Russian River area and coastal towns of Jenner and Bodega Bay. Monte Rio, Duncan Mills, Guerneville, Cazadero, Forestville and Occidental are all in the fire’s path if crews can’t contain the blaze before winds pick up later Saturday.

The extensive evacuation order is a precaution as planned PG&E outages limit the ability of emergency officials to call for evacuations into the night, according to the Sonoma County Office of Emergency Services.

Cal Fire said during a 6:30 p.m. press conference that 77 structures have been destroyed, including 31 residential, since the fire broke out late Wednesday. Fourteen additional structures have been damaged. Several companies have responded with air strikes and “aggressive” ground resources.

Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick warned people not to risk their safety by resisting evacuation orders.

Essick said:

“Fire is not something you can fight.”

“You cannot fight this. If you’re under an evacuation order, please evacuate.”

Essick added:

“Be diligent. Help your neighbors.”

Fifty thousand residents from the city of Healdsburg and town of Windsor were evacuated Saturday morning. The mandatory evacuation area was greatly expanded Saturday evening.

The Kincade Fire, as of 6:30 p.m. Saturday, had burned 25,955 acres and was just 10 percent contained, Cal Fire said.