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Glass Fire reaches 26% containment, grows to 64,900 acres

Downed trees and other dry fuels continue to threaten fire lines, according to Cal Fire.

7:45 p.m. update:

Firefighters gained more momentum as they continue containment efforts on the Glass Fire. 

Containment on the Glass Fire rose to 26% with the fire growing to 64,900 acres. Mop up and and tactical patrol efforts continue in areas where the fire's forward progress has stopped. 

The fire sparked back on Sept. 27 and forcing tens of thousands from their homes in Napa and Sonoma counties. Roughly 36,803 people are currently evacuated.

235 homes have been destroyed in Sonoma County and 252 homes have been destroyed in Napa County. 12 commercial structures have been destroyed in Sonoma County and 304 commercial structures have been destroyed in Napa County. 

3:45 p.m. update:

A new evacuation order for Napa County was issued due to the Glass Fire.

The order impacts areas of northern Napa County bordered on the west by Highway 29 at Livermore Road, the north by the Lake County line, the east by Aetna Mine Road, and the existing evacuation orders to the south.

Cal Fire Sonoma Lake Napa Unit also announced that some evacuation orders have been reduced to warnings for parts of Santa Rosa, Napa County, and Sonoma County.

To view the evacuation orders reduced to warnings in areas of Napa County, click HERE.

To view the evacuation orders reduced to warnings in areas of Sonoma County, click HERE.

To view the evacuation orders reduced to warnings in areas of Santa Rosa, click HERE.

10:15 a.m. update:

Napa County has new evacuation orders for areas of northern Napa County.

The orders go from Highway 29 at the Robert Louis Stevenson trailhead in the west, Livermore Road in the north, Aetna Mine Road in the east and down to the existing evacuation orders in the south.

Cal Fire official said the Glass Fire is now 63,885 acres and 17% contained, according to an update.

Some evacuation warnings are now rescinded in Santa Rosa. The Summerfield, Spring Lake, Northeast 2, Northeast 3 and Middle Rincon evacuation warnings are now lifted.

7:11 p.m. update:

Cal Fire officials said the Glass Fire burned 63,450 acres and is 15% contained. 

8:30 a.m. update:

Cal Fire said the Glass Fire is now 62,360 acres and 10% contained. As of Saturday at 7 a.m., 28,835 structures have been destroyed, according to Cal Fire. 

"The Glass Fire burned actively throughout the night due to low humidity and above average temperatures at the higher elevations," Cal Fire said in a press release. 

Crews experienced active fire behavior overnight that included slope driven runs, flanking and single-tree torching, Cal Fire said. 

"Downed trees and other dry fuels continue to threaten fire lines," Cal Fire said.

8 p.m. update

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. -- The Glass Fire is continuing to threaten control lines, Cal Fire officials said.

Light wind is allowing fire behavior to be driven both by fuel and topography. The fire is growing in short, intense runs up slopes, and drainages, officials said.

 The Glass Fire burned 61,150 acres and is 8% contained.

5 p.m. update:

Sonoma County officials are holding a joint press conference to discuss the latest on the Glass Fire.

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3:15 p.m. update:

More Sonoma County evacuation orders have been reduced to warnings. The following areas are now under a warning, rather than a mandatory order:

  • South of Annadel State Park
  • East and South of Santa Rosa City limits
  • North of Bennet Valley Road
  • West of Savannah Trail
  • West of Wallace Road
  • West of the intersection of Porter Creek Road at Franz Valley Road (Safari West) 
  • East of Mark West Springs Road
  • South of Porter Creek Road to the Santa Rosa City limits

There are still several evacuation orders and warnings in effect, and some roads remain closed to assist with firefighting efforts. Evacuation centers are open in several locations.

Evacuation information: 

Evacuation Centers:

  • Cross Walk Church: 2590 First Street, Napa
  • A Place to Play (Temporary Evacuation Point) 2375 West 3rd Street, Santa Rosa
  • Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds (accepting sheltering in cars and RVs. Not ready for congregant sheltering at this point.) 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Peteluma
  • Petaluma Veteran’s Building (Temporary Evacuation Point and shelter) 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma
  • Sonoma Raceway (Temporary Evacuation Point, car sheltering and camping) 29355 Arnold Drive.

2:00 p.m. update:

The Glass Fire is blazing in the old burn scars of other wine country fires. 

As mentioned in a previous update, Cal Fire is anticipating utilizing the burn scars from the very recent Hennessey Fire to help battle the blaze in the northern part of the Glass Fire. However, it is encroaching on another fire-ravaged area on the western side as well.

The Tubbs Fire of October 2017 was the most destructive wildfire in California history at the time, only to be surpassed by the Camp Fire the following year. The fire burned an estimated 5,600 structures over more than 36,807 acres, and 22 people were killed. 

1:00 p.m. update:

Weather and fire behavior experts for Cal Fire gave insight on the Red Flag Warning and how it will impact firefighting efforts on the Glass Fire. 

Incident Meteorologist Tom Bird says the agency was expecting very warm and critically dry conditions with the Red Flag Warning, however winds were surprisingly not as strong as expected. Overnight breezes that were anticipated to be an issue did not materialize either. 

“We did continue with the dry conditions for core recoveries overnight, and warm temperatures on the slopes where the fire was, and those two things together just keep the fire behavior ongoing through the nighttime when typically it would start to diminish,” Bird said. 

The Red Flag Warning is still in effect, and this is still a concern for Cal Fire, despite whatever good luck firefighters had on Thursday with winds. Bird said that hopefully by Sunday, the area will see more moisture from offshore. 

Fire behavior analyst Brian Newman caught the public up on how the Red Flag Warning could affect the fire’s behavior. 

“The Red Flag Warning did not quite come down on the fire as much as we had expected in terms of the winds, but we still have critically dry fuel moistures and an excessive loading of fuel in the area,” Newman said.  

The northern part of the fire along Highway 29 corridor is what Cal Fire is concentrating on for Friday, Newman said. Cal Fire is anticipating utilizing the burn scars from the very recent Hennessey Fire to help battle the blaze in that area.

Newman also addressed the concern of some residents of the Glen Ellen and Sugar Loaf Mountain, which Cal Fire said on Thursday was a concern. Although there is still fire activity on the ground, things are in the mop up stage in that area. 

There are several evacuation orders and warning in effect, and some roads remain closed to assist with firefighting efforts. Evacuation centers are open in several locations.

Evacuation information: 

11:00 a.m. update:

Cal Fire provided updates related to the firefight of the Glass Fire on Cal Fire LNU's Facebook page.

Battalion Chief Mark Brunton said that the fire has not crossed Highway 29, though firefighters are continuing to monitor that area as terrain is steep and difficult to work in. 

The Red Flag Warning has caused a push of winds from the northwest, but of more concern are the hot temperatures and dry conditions. 

“Our fuels are extremely receptive to any ignition source whatsoever,” Brunton said. “So, it’s at a very high percentage for that.”

Brunton also said that Highway 12 corridor was “looking really good” and Annadel State Park, a previous concern for firefighters, was “holding really well.”

Cal Fire LNU Unit Chief Shana Jones said that damage inspections have now covered 30 percent of the land. 558 structures have been destroyed and 108 are damaged in both Sonoma and Napa County. 

Jones clarified that these damage inspections teams are on the ground, going into threatened areas to collect data in order for cities and counties to begin the recovery process.

A birds' eye view of the Glass Fire from one of Cal Fire's helicopters shows the extent of the fire and smoke in the area

Original story: 

Little progress was made in the firefight overnight of the Glass Fire, as the blaze grew just over 1,000 acres and only 1 percent further containment.

The fire in Sonoma and Napa County is at 60,158 acres and six percent containment as of Friday morning. In addition to dozens of other structures, 220 single family residences have been destroyed in both counties, according to Cal Fire. At least 28,835 more structures are threatened by the wildfire. 

"It was a very active night for firefighters on the Glass Fire," Cal Fire LNU said in an incident report. "Temperatures at higher elevations remained above average and humidity is still low. Downed trees, and dried vegetation made it difficult for firefighters and threatened the fire line."

The terrain has been a challenge for firefighters, as rough and steep areas combine with an abundance of fuels to make it difficult to access the fire line with machinery or on foot. 

Cal Fire says, "fuel moisture in all fuels is at critical levels resulting in 100% consumption."

More winds are expected to push the fire further along this difficult terrain, as the Red Flag Warning for the area remains in effect through early Saturday morning. Cal Fire says numerous firefighting air tankers are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.

There are several evacuation orders and warning in effect, and some roads remain closed to assist with firefighting efforts. Evacuation centers are open in several locations.

Evacuation information: 

Evacuation Centers:

  • Cross Walk Church: 2590 First Street, Napa
  • A Place to Play (Temporary Evacuation Point) 2375 West 3rd Street, Santa Rosa
  • Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds (accepting sheltering in cars and RVs. Not ready for congregant sheltering at this point.) 175 Fairgrounds Drive, Peteluma
  • Petaluma Veteran’s Building (Temporary Evacuation Point and shelter) 1094 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma
  • Sonoma Raceway (Temporary Evacuation Point, car sheltering and camping) 29355 Arnold Drive.

MAPS

An evacuation map and details on evacuations and evacuation shelter for the Glass Fire are available on the Napa County website HERE or on the map below.

A Sonoma County evacuation map is available below. 

Roads are closed in the area of the fire

Click here to see a list of current road closures in Napa County

Click here to see a list of current road closures in Sonoma County

WILDFIRE PREPS

If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. A defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris is completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.

The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and know your community’s evacuation plans to best prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.

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