Sonoma County declares local emergency in response to Point Fire

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Sonoma County Executive M. Christina Rivera has declared a local emergency in response to the Point Fire, a prerequisite for requesting state and federal assistance for response and recovery efforts. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting within the next seven days to consider ratifying the proclamation.

The fire, which broke out at 12:33 p.m. Sunday above Dry Creek Valley near Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road, had burned 1,190 acres and was 20 percent contained as of early Monday morning.

The County has opened a temporary evacuation point in the south parking lot at Laguna High School (formerly known as El Molino), 7050 Covey Road, Forestville. Approximately 240 people in Evacuation Zone SON-2E2 were ordered to evacuate the area on Sunday afternoon; another 400 people in Evacuation Zone SON-2E3 have been warned to prepare to evacuate if conditions worsen. Identify your evacuation zone here and sign up for emergency alerts.

Wildfire danger will increase today to the east of the Point Fire in North Bay interior mountains, where the National Weather Service has forecast wind gusts up to 30 mph, warm temperatures and low humidity levels. The dangerous conditions prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning for interior mountain areas in Sonoma and Napa counties from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which regulates air quality in central and south Sonoma County, issued an air quality advisory and Spare the Air Alert for wildfire smoke from the Point Fire. Alerts are issued when ozone or particulate matter pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels.

Check your local air quality at airnow.gov. When air quality is unhealthy, residents should protect their health by avoiding exposure. If possible, stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside. Set car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside.

The Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District, which regulates air quality in north and west Sonoma County, provides additional guidance in English and Spanish on ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke and unhealthy air.

Under state law, employers must take steps to protect workers when it is reasonable for them to anticipate that employees may be exposed to wildfire smoke, or, when the current Air Quality Index for airborne particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5) is 151 or greater. Options include changing the location of work, modifying work schedules or providing proper respiratory protection such as N95 masks. More information is available from the California Department of Industrial Relations. The Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management has requested CalOES support to bring Cal/OSHA enforcement teams to the evacuation area.

Follow the County of Sonoma’s Facebook page and check SoCoEmergency.org for updates on the fire.

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Media Contact:
Ted Appel, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403