A 75-acre wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon along the Sonoma Coast near Timber Cove, triggering mandatory evacuation orders for hundreds of households, closing a stretch of Highway 1, and blanketing the North Bay in heavy smoke as ground and air crews battled the flames.
Fast-Moving Flames Prompt Evacuations Along Highway 1
The Woodside Fire erupted at 1:43 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, near the Woodside Campground entrance for Salt Point State Park. Driven by northwest winds blowing at 10 to 15 miles per hour with gusts reaching up to 25 miles per hour, the blaze raced through thick forest on the west side of the highway.
By evening, the fire had grown to approximately 75 acres and achieved 20% containment, according to ABC7 Bay Area. Portions of the wildfire jumped Highway 1 south of the Ocean Cove Campground, creating three smaller spot fires within an overall perimeter that stretched south toward Stillwater Cove Regional Park.
Evacuation Orders and Shelter Operations
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for zone SON-1D1, an area spanning between Fort Ross and the northern end of Salt Point State Road along the coast. The mandated zone encompasses Timber Cove, Walsh Landing, Seaview, and Stump Beach, affecting roughly 350 households. An evacuation warning was additionally deployed for zone SON-1D2 farther inland, covering Table Mountain, Toners Place, and Goat Rock, which includes 265 households.
Campgrounds throughout the region emptied rapidly as state and local authorities cleared visitors out. Woodside and Gerstle Cove campgrounds within Salt Point State Park were evacuated alongside the privately operated Ocean Cove Campground. Officials established a temporary evacuation shelter at Laguna High School, formerly known as El Molino, located on Covey Road in Forestville.
Residents seeking help with animal evacuations were directed to contact Sonoma CART for small animals and pets, or NorCal Livestock Evac for livestock and large animals.
Intensive Air and Ground Suppression Efforts
State and local agencies committed substantial resources to combat the coastal blaze as afternoon winds stoked the perimeter. By sundown, firefighting personnel reached 320 individuals on the scene. Specialized air resources, including Coulson Aviation C-130 air tankers and state Fire Hawk helicopters equipped for nighttime firefighting operations, dropped fire retardant along Highway 1 above Ocean Cove. Crews from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, including Konocti Crew Five, cut containment lines on perilous slopes as the fire burned toward the ocean.
Highway 1, serving as the region’s main coastal artery, was closed between Stewarts Point-Skaggs Springs Road and Timber Cove Road. Authorities confirmed the closure would remain in effect overnight.
Smoke Impacts and Weekend Weather Outlook
Heavy smoke drifted across Sonoma and Marin counties, prompting regional air quality regulators to issue advisories urging residents to remain indoors with doors and windows closed until smoke levels drop. The Bay Area Air District warned that skies could turn hazy and air quality might become unhealthy.
The National Weather Service anticipates similar weather patterns extending into the weekend, marked by a three-day heat wave. Meteorologist Karleisa Rogacheski noted that the incoming weather will maintain challenging conditions for firefighters working to secure containment lines around the perimeter.
