A fast-moving wildfire in southern Mendocino County exploded to 841 acres on Saturday, prompting urgent evacuation orders and warnings near Hopland. According to CBS News, the Feliz Fire was first reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. near Feliz Creek Road. Fueled by afternoon heat, dry conditions, and gusty winds reaching up to 25 mph, the flames spread rapidly through vegetation and threatened structures and power lines. As of Saturday night, the fire reached 5% containment.
Feliz Fire Surges to 841 Acres and 5% Containment
The blaze forced the multi-hour closure of U.S. Highway 101 as flames encroached upon the corridor and winds threw embers to spark spot fires ahead of the main front. Caltrans reported that the highway closure originally spanned from Burke Hill Road in the north to the state Highway 175 junction in the south. By late Saturday evening, authorities reopened U.S. Highway 101 to one lane in each direction with intermittent traffic control, though officials urged motorists to avoid the area.
Evacuations and Affected Zones
The Press Democrat reported that Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Quincy Cromer stated the evacuation orders covered two specific zones encompassing a combined 1,161 residences. Zone MEN-2HOP04, located near the fire area, covers outer Hopland and roughly 690 residences, while Zone MEN-2UKV29 to the north accounts for about 471 residences. In addition, three separate zones were placed under evacuation warnings, affecting an estimated 835 residences, including Zone MEN-2UKV23 (188 residences), Zone MEN-2UKV21 (625 residences), and the rural Zone MEN-2UKV22 (22 residences).
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office noted that the wildfire posed an immediate threat to life as it advanced within a mile of Hopland and its outskirts, which are home to more than 600 people. Cal Fire spokesperson Sherri Wise stated that evacuation orders and warnings were expected to remain in effect overnight for hundreds of area residents. Residents were advised to check Mendoready.org for the latest evacuation maps.
Firefighting Response and Air Quality Impacts
Firefighters continued working into the late night using a robust array of resources. According to ABC7 Bay Area, three night-flying helicopters were ordered to the scene alongside multiple air tankers, hand crews, bulldozers, and additional ground personnel. Specialized state Fire Hawk helicopters and a Cal Fire Hercules C-130 aircraft were deployed to conduct water and retardant drops.
The thick smoke generated by the wildfire prompted the Sonoma County Health Officer to issue a health advisory due to poor air quality. Officials warned that areas of northern Sonoma County may experience Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
or “Unhealthy” air quality conditions, noting that high temperatures can worsen the effects of high Air Quality Index events.
Evacuation Resources and Shelter Locations
Multiple emergency resources and animal shelters were established in Ukiah to assist displaced residents:
- Large Animals: Redwood Empire Fairgrounds at 1055 North State St. in Ukiah
- Small Animals: Mendocino County Animal Shelter at 298 Plant Rd. in Ukiah
- Tribal Assistance: Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians opened the tribal gymnasium at 415 Coyote Valley Blvd.
- Temporary Evacuation Points: Mendocino County Office of Education at 2240 Old River Road and United Disaster Relief at 650 Babcock Lane in Ukiah
The cause of the Feliz Fire remains under investigation by authorities.
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