Residents in a rural area east of Santa Rosa were ordered to leave the city immediately as a wildfire broke out Monday afternoon in the mountainous area east of the city.
The so-called Ledson Fire began around 1 p.m. near the Pythian Road, in the northern part of the Sonoma Valley and on the western slope of the Maycamas Mountains, separating Sonoma and Napa counties.
Cal Fire’s latest estimates put the fire at about 13 acres with a moderate rate of spread. It was moving uphill, east, with light winds and temperatures around 90 degrees.
The fire originated on the slope and is burning at the site of two major wildfires in the past – the Nuns Fire in 2017 and the Glass Fire in 2020.
Resources and additional air and ground support were quickly rushed to the scene, Cal Fire spokesman Jason Clay said.
An order has been issued to evacuate the emergency zone: SON-3H1 – Southern Alpine Valley. This area includes South Timberland Drive, east of Los Alamos Road, west of the Napa County line, and Hood Mountain Regional Park. Authorities advised him to leave immediately.
While smoke may be visible in the city of Santa Rosa, officials said there is no threat to the city and no evacuation orders are in effect. Smoke is visible even in the west, as far as Sevastopol.
The fire occurred as temperatures reached 90 degrees across the region, and a heat advisory is expected to go into effect starting Tuesday morning, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Garcia said.
Although conditions are hot and dry, Garcia said, light, variable winds of 4 to 5 mph with gusts up to 8 mph should help fight the fire.
Night temperatures are expected to remain above average as monsoon humidity flattens the temperature curve, the weather service said.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned.