"The Point Reyes National Seashore released a final version of a controversial plan Friday to extend leases of historic ranches in the park and to cull some tule elk to prevent conflicts with private ranching.

In its final environmental review of the park's general management plan amendment, the National Park Service's preferred option is to extend leases for private ranchers from five-year terms to up to 20-year-terms. The 24 ranching families in the park and neighboring Golden Gate National Recreation Area would also be able to diversify their livestock beyond cows on a case-by-case basis to include other animals such as goats, chickens and pigs.

To address conflicts between the free-roaming Drakes Beach tule elk herd and ranches, the plan would allow park staff to kill some elk to keep the population to 120 elk. The herd had 138 elk as of the last count in late 2019."

"David Evans, owner of the D. Rogers Ranch lease in the seashore, said he was pleased with the park's proposal, saying it will ease the uncertainty of short-term leases, provide more economic security through livestock diversification, promote improved land stewardship and potentially allow visitors to access ranches."

"Fleur Dawes, communication director for In Defense of Animals, said the park service should expect more pushback including protests and other actions in the coming weeks."

FULL STORY: https://www.marinij.com/2020/0...

FINAL PLAN: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/d...

Found by the side of the PR/Petaluma Rd near the olive ranch. Stolen? Trash? (Thx BM)

More fire weather coming. Make sure you are prepared. "Early indications is that this early Oct event will have potential to bring record heat to CA and possibly other areas. This will coincide with weak offshore flow, so should spread all the way to coast and bring extreme wildfire burning conditions once again."

Sign up for local alerts:
Marin County -www.alertmarin.com
Marin Sheriff - local.nixle.com

Get your defensible space ready:
https://youtu.be/otMDwt03E-o

Have a plan and a go bag;
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/em...

Very important voting info from Wade Holland in the Point Reyes Light: "The good news about November's general election is that voting in person at a polling station will be available on four days, from Saturday, Oct. 31, through Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The bad news is that only three polling stations will be open in all of West Marin.

Covid-19 is impacting this year's election in many ways, including reducing the number of polling stations in the county from 89 to just 29. The three West Marin polling places will be at the Bolinas Community Center, the San Geronimo Valley Community Center and the West Marin Health & Human Services Center on Sixth Street in Point Reyes Station. These centers will be open for voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before Election Day, and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

A major change this year is that Governor Gavin Newsom has directed that a vote-by-mail ballot be sent to every registered voter. Lynda Roberts, Marin's registrar of voters, recommends using the mail-in ballots rather than going to the polls. She also urges that completed ballots be mailed back well before Election Day. To be counted, vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day, Nov. 3, and received by the county by Friday, Nov. 20.

Ballot drop-off boxes will also be available around the clock through Election Day at 12 locations in the county, including at the Bolinas Community Center and the Health & Human Services Center in Point Reyes Station.

Voter pamphlets will be mailed on Sept. 24, and the vote-by-mail ballots will be sent out on Oct. 5."

FULL STORY: https://www.ptreyeslight.com/a...

Don't feed the coyotes please. "A woman was hospitalized this week after a coyote bit her leg on Tennessee Beach in the Marin Headlands, authorities said.

The woman told park rangers the coyote was acting aggressively as it approached her Tuesday afternoon on the remote beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. After the animal bit her, she walked the 1.7-mile trail back to Tennessee Valley Road and drove to a hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries, according to a spokesman for the National Park Service.

Using a piece of the woman's clothing, park officials are attempting to collect a sample of the coyote's DNA. The genetic information will be used to identify and track the animal as part of a new program that aims to address the growing problem of coyotes approaching people in search of food in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, said park service spokesman Charles Strickfaden.

He said park rangers have noted a "large increase" in reports of people feeding coyotes. As a result, "food-conditioned coyotes" are increasingly approaching visitors to beg for food."

LINK: https://www.marinij.com/2020/0...

Car accident on SFD in Inverness by Dream Farm Rd. Hopefully everyone ok. Drive safe, the roads are slick today.

"Nearly one in three people here in Marin County will leave, part of the roughly 700,000 who his models suggest may abandon the broader Bay Area as a result of sea-level rise alone."

https://www.nytimes.com/intera...

REMINDER: Areas closed to all visitors due to the Woodward Fire.

The area and all trails south of Limantour Road and Bear Valley Road, west of Highway 1 (aka Shoreline Highway), and north of Stewart Trail are closed to all visitor access until further notice.

These areas include, but are not limited to:

Limantour Road is closed to all visitor access until further notice.

The Bear Valley area is closed to all visitor access until further notice. This includes:
Bear Valley Visitor Center Access Road
Bear Valley Visitor Center
Bear Valley Picnic Area
Bear Valley Trailhead
Earthquake Trail
Kule Loklo
Morgan Horse Ranch
Woodpecker Trail

Coast, Glen, Sky, and Wildcat Campgrounds are closed until further notice. Campers will receive a notification and refund via email.

Also closed are Bear Valley Trail, Horse Trail, Sky Trail, Laguna Trail, Glen Trail, Greenpicker Trail, and Coast Trail north of Stewart Trail.

MORE INFO: https://www.nps.gov/pore/learn...

Via Point Reyes National Seashore "Happy 58th Birthday Point Reyes National Seashore!! On September 13, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed into law the establishment of Point Reyes National Seashore. To learn more, visit nps.gov/pore." (Photo WMF)

"#WoodwardFire Update, 09/13/20 Firefighters will perform a burnout operation about 10 a.m. at the Bear Valley Visitor Center to provide a defensible space for the center's Morgan horses."

LINK: https://twitter.com/PointReyes...

This video does a good job of explaining why and when when the air quality will get better. Short answer: next week.

https://twitter.com/PaulKPIX/s...

[Sound On] At Kehoe Beach in @pointreyesnps hundreds of blackbirds gather around sunset in the thick fog and smoke.

LINK: https://twitter.com/westmarinf...

Via Point Reyes National Seashore "For those of you who have been asking about the wildlife in Point Reyes during the #WoodwardFire, we thought you might be happy to see that this bobcat was caught on camera just outside of Incident Command Post (where we coordinate as a team) yesterday."

LINK: https://twitter.com/PointReyes...

It was orange yesterday. The smoke is so thick right now. Some additional information about all of that:

"To get a sense for how dark it was in CA yesterday, here are solar radiation observations from my backyard weather station for 3 recent days. Much darker than a typical foggy day, and it was effectively sunset ~3 hours too early."

"The orange skies this morning are a result of wildfire smoke in the air. Strong winds over the past few days transported ash from fires in northern California and the Sierra Nevada into the region.

These smoke particles scatter blue light & only allow yellow-orange-red light to reach the surface, causing skies to look orange. If smoke becomes too thick in a certain area, most of the light will be scattered & absorbed before reaching the surface, which may cause dark skies."

"Very little change in the smoke across the SF bay area the next 18 hours."

RADIATION LINK: https://twitter.com/feet_pinoc...

ORANGE LINK: https://twitter.com/AirDistric...

SMOKE UPDATE LINK: https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea...

Wires down on PR/Petaluma Rd past farm stand. Expect delays. Thx @alexporrata

"Effective today (9/9/20) at 4 p.m., the Marin County Sheriff's Office in collaboration with the Marin County Fire Department is lifting the remaining Evacuation Warnings in West Marin."

Local Point Reyes Station radio station KWMR featured on the home page of the LATimes.com web site today.

"In a place where local news is otherwise a once-weekly paper or a conversation at the post office or local market, the radio station has long been a trusted source of knowledge when emergencies hit.

"There is a weird parallel between COVID and a wildfire in a way in that they are these dynamic situations but they are slow moving also," (Jeff) Manson said. "Stuff isn't changing hour to hour and yet people are really hungry for information."

He and (Amanda) Eichstaedt have learned if they don't put out facts, small town gossip will take over."

LINK: https://www.latimes.com/califo...

An incredible shot of the #woodwardfire in Point Reyes. Taken Aug 20, 2020. (Thx FP)

Some local residents have asked about the salinity intrusion that happened to the wells in Point Reyes Station. Here is the North Marin Water District's post from Aug 20th explaining what happened:

"Salinity Intrusion in West Marin System Source Wells
Unprecedented salinity intrusion has occurred in two wells which North Marin Water District uses as sources of drinking water in the West Marin system.

These two wells, located near the former Coast Guard housing property in Point Reyes Station, have experienced periodic and seasonal salinity intrusion for many years. In 2015, NMWD completed permitting and construction of a well and pipeline that brings water from a different source, out of the reach of tides. This third well is situated approximately a mile and a half east of Point Reyes station adjacent to the Gallagher ranch.

Unfortunately, the third well is unable to produce enough water to meet 100% of the volume demands of our customers in the summer months and the salinity intrusion at the Coast Guard wells has continued to worsen, likely due in part to sea level rise.
This year, under dry-year water conditions, we have seen the salt levels in the water produced from the Coast Guard wells rise to unprecedented levels. While there is no direct health concern from the salt for most people at this concentration, it does affect the taste. Customers that may be on sodium restricted diets should consult their physicians to see if the additional sodium is a concern for them.

Additionally, bromide, a component of the salt water that has increased, can also contribute to the formation of disinfection byproducts. We have taken every action available to keep disinfection byproducts as low as possible and continue to monitor their concentrations. If they rise to an unsafe level we will, in consultation with the California Division of Drinking Water, communicate this to our customers.

In order correct the situation, North Marin Water District is actively working to construct additional sources of water that are not prone to salinity intrusion. The acquisition of land, planning and permitting have been going on for two years. We hope to have this new source constructed and available for water supply in 2021.

Emergency water conservation measures remain in place and reduced water use decreases our dependence on wells impacted by salinity intrusion.

More information about water quality can be found at https://nmwd.com/your-water/wa...

If you have questions or concerns that are not addressed here, please call Pablo Ramudo, Water Quality Supervisor at 415-761-8924."

FULL POST: https://www.facebook.com/North...

PR LIGHT ARTICLE:
https://www.ptreyeslight.com/a...

The Point Reyes National Seashore is closed today, as are all of the local beaches like Shell Beach and Chicken Ranch. Someone reported seeing kayaks in the Nicasio Reservoir today, that is also not allowed. With COVID and the heat, these are challenging times. But we're also dealing with the #woodwardfire and a red flag warning and need to give first responders, law enforcement and fire fighters the time, space and focus to do their work. Thank you. Be safe.

Here is the video update from the new #woodwardfire incident command for today.

"We saw an increase in activity last night. Not unplanned, cleaning up the unburned fuel, no threats to the containment lines. Today's plan is to have hand crews out cleaning up fire lines.

Prepared for the warm, windy day. Critical fire day today. Ridge tops never cooled off and primed us for another hot day today. Around 100.

This is the last hot day, pattern change, a storm system moves through the area which will bring us gusty winds this evening.

Then we will transition back to the marine layer putting the fire back into relative humidity.

Challenging weather for all the fires in the state with the wind coming. We have two strike team engines to be prepared.

Also potential power shut offs and safety shut offs, but not targeting Marin County as of now.

Might see a helicopter today keeping things cool and within the perimeter."

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Anyone else seeing the #woodwardfire flames tonight? Here is a shot from the Point Reyes Station mesa. (Thx AW)

Via Marin County: "Stinson Beach has been shut down as traffic and crowding has become a problem on #Hwy1."

LINK: https://twitter.com/kcbsamfmtr...

The Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 2 which has been managing the #woodwardfire since last weekend is transitioning today and handing over command to a Type 3 team from the Great Basin.

With so many fires in California raging right now, we are so grateful to our local fire fighters for rushing in when the #woodwardfire went from 7 acres to 50 acres in the blink of an eye. And to the Northern Rockies team who came in with a huge range of expertise and were able to oversee the fire management from 0% containment to the 93% containment (along with those super scooper planes, helicopters and ground teams).

The local community stood by, watching the huge plumes of smoke rise up over our community, wondering how bad it was. And every day Mary Rasumussen, Brandon Cichowski and Scott Shuster (along with local resources Jason Weber and Brenton Snyder and a whole bunch of other folks) would get on the interwebs at 9:30am to give us the daily update and help us to understand what was going on the park with the fire, with the evacuations and everything else fire related. Thank you for that. And thank you to the outstanding ASL interpreters and the Spanish language translators who ensured it was accessible for everyone.

Goodbye Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 2, thank you for putting your blood and sweat into this fire to keep us safe. Good luck on your next mission. And welcome Great Basin. As Brandon says, "things are looking really good." Let's hope so. Be well, stay safe.

English video update for Sep 6:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Spanish video update for Sep 6:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Full #woodwardfire incident report:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photo...

Via PRNPS #WoodwardFire Daily Update:

Area Burned: 4,813 acres
Containment: 93 %
Total Personnel: 301
"¢Crews: 6
"¢Engines:13
"¢Helicopters: 2
"¢Masticators: 1
"¢Water Tenders: 3

Downloadable PDFs and more information on incident webpage: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7062/

A smokey sunrise over Tomales Bay in Inverness this morning. (Thx AN)

A view of the #woodwardfire from Point Reyes today. Photo by Felix Chamberlain.

"Effective today (9/4/20) at 6PM the Marin County Sheriff's Office in collaboration with Marin County Fire are reducing the Evacuation ORDER for Silverhills Rd, Fox Dr. and Noren Way to an Evacuation WARNING.

The evacuation center at the Marin Center is now also closed.

The following areas are now under an Evacuation WARNING:

Silverhills Rd, Fox Drive, Noren Way
Inverness Park
Bear Valley Visitor Center and NPS Headquarters

We are asking that the public stay away from coastal west Marin this weekend. With a multitude of fire personnel still assigned to the fire, there will be a large amount of firefighters traversing west Marin to the fire and we expect smoke to continue throughout the weekend.

In addition, additional emergency calls due to visitors on the coast and the heat could cause a strain in resources on standby in case of a new fire or the need for additional resources on the Woodward Fire. The Point Reyes National Seashore remains closed to the public. PLEASE avoid West Marin."

LINK: https://local.nixle.com/alert/...

Spotted this very cute family in Olema who come out at 7pm each night to cheer on the firefighters as they finish their shift working on the #woodwardfire.

#WoodwardFire Update: Thursday, September 3, 2020

Area Burned: 4,626 acres
Containment: 57%
Total Personnel: 486
"¢Crews: 11
"¢Engines: 37
"¢Helicopters: 4
"¢Dozers: 1
"¢Masticators: 1
"¢Water Tenders: 5

Via PRNPS "On a slightly different topic from the Woodward Fire, we have a temporary job opening for a Traffic Control Aide at Point Reyes National Seashore (when it re-opens). Please help us spread the word!"

LINK: https://www.nps.gov/pore/getin...

Via Bay Area NWS: "Deep marine layer this morning will keep temperatures near normal today with some minor warming Friday. More significant heat event looks on tap for this weekend with Excessive Heat Watch in effect Saturday thru Monday."

Please remember, the Point Reyes National Seashore is closed for the weekend because of fire operations. Be safe everyone.

LINK: https://twitter.com/nwsbayarea...

Via Hog Island Oyster Co.: "So happy to feed some of the AeroFlight Super Scooper crew who came by the farm the other day. These guys have been scooping water out of Tomales Bay to help fight the #woodwardfire raging just south of us. Beyond grateful for this crew and for all of our first responders!! Folded hands"

Via @MarinSheriff - Evacuation WARNINGS for the following communities have been LIFTED:

Olema
Inverness
Drakes View
Sea Haven

Other evacuation warnings and orders around the fire REMAIN in effect:

Silverhills (ORDER)
Inverness Park (WARNING)
NPS HQ Bear Valley (WARNING)

Reposted because original graphic was blurry.

A lot of people have asked about these columns of smoke behind Inverness Park. According to the #woodwardfire video update today, those are controlled backburns by Limantour Rd behind Silver Hills.

From the #woodwardfire video update today:

"Containment continues to rise. There has been some backburning on Limantour Rd. right behind Silver Hills which are the columns of smoke that people have been seeing and reporting. Management action points are under discussion which may reduce the evacuation warnings and orders, possibly tomorrow or Friday if those action points are hit. The Point Reyes National Seashore will be closed through Labor Day weekend."

English version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Spanish version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

#WoodwardFire
Total Personnel: 508
Size: 4,538 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained: 41%

LINK: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incid...

"Madeline Hope said the part of the Silverhills area where her home sits, and where evacuations are mandatory, is about a quarter-mile from where the fire is burning.

"If we lose everything, we still own the land and we can rebuild," she said.

Ken Fox has been a volunteer firefighter in the town of Inverness for three decades. He said he was evacuated last week from Fox Road, named for his father, in the Silverhills evacuation zone to escape the encroaching Woodward Fire.

He said he has not been directly fighting the blaze but has helped advise on the best trails and roads for firefighters to use to drive in bulldozers and other equipment to surround and beat back the blaze with controlled burns."

FULL STORY: https://www.sfchronicle.com/ba...

People are sneaking water into the elk in Point Reyes during the fire.

"At 6 p.m., as his shift came to a close and he drove away, the small bucket-brigade crept in (to the Point Reyes National Seashore). They were transporting roughly 200 gallons of water to the park's tule elk, who they say are dying from dehydration "” and unable to reach other water sources because of a fence around their preserve "” as drought conditions worsen in the region."

A statement from the park: "While we sympathize with their concerns, the safety of firefighters, fire personnel and local residents during the Woodland wildland fire is the park's number one priority. Taking action without permits and permissions from the NPS and while the park is entirely closed to all public access due to the Woodward Fire is unlawful. The park has communicated with concerned citizens that our monitoring indicates adequate water is available. We have park staff, who are authorized to be in this otherwise closed area, monitoring water availability for the elk at Tomales Point today."

Photo of elk rutting taken by Carlos Porrata taken just before the Woodward Fire. Carlos and Tom Killion have a show at Toby's in Point Reyes Station through September.

LA TIMES LINK:
https://www.latimes.com/califo...

NPS FAQ:
https://www.nps.gov/pore/learn...

"Today's #woodwardfire update (thx AW):

Acreage: 4,465 with 25% containment

Crews continue to make progress to contain the fire, great news considering the extremely difficult terrain and thick vegetation (30-40 foot high brush in some places). Aircraft are available but due to heavy smoke and fog have been used on a more limited basis in the last several days. The water scoopers are no longer assigned to the #woodwardfire and are now deployed to Arizona.

Large falling trees pose the biggest risk to firefighters and skilled crew are removing them on and near the firelines.

Thick heavy smoke is caused by the burning of dense vegetation. It is expected to lessen once winds pick up.

Evacuation orders and warnings are still in place. Backburns are within 1/8 of the top of Fox Drive."

English Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Spanish Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

A clarification on an earlier post. Cafe Reyes in Point Reyes Station has been donating pizzas to the first responders and fire fighters out of their own pockets and are not taking donations, but they always appreciate your patronage.

And Bodega Coffee in Forest Knolls donated 20lbs of fresh roasted coffee to the #woodwardfire command center earlier this week.

We're all in this together. That's how we're going to get through this. Thank you.

Here is the latest map of the fire:
Acreage: 3,269 with 17% containment

Summary of today's #woodwardfire video update (thx AW):

"Acreage: 3,269 with 17% containment

The firecrews made significant progress yesterday which included back burning, creating fire line and mop up operations. Much of the back burn happened around Bear Valley and above Fox Drive and Silverhills which is what caused the large smoke plumes in the afternoon. Crews will undertake similar operations today.

There is a team of resource advisors on the fire working with the operations teams to help minimize impacts to natural, historical and cultural resources. For example, avoiding retardant drops in freshwater creeks and ponds, and when possible protecting trees essential for spotted owl habitat. Yesterday fire crews were able to protect Kule Loklo using controlled burns.

All evacuation orders and warnings remain.

Heavy smoke is expected to impact the community for the next few days. "

* It says 'Aug 30 Daily Briefing' in title, but it is Aug 31. That's an error.

ENGLISH VERSION:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

#woodwardfire firefighters took great pains to save the Miwok village structures at Kule Loklo in Point Reyes today during their backburn. (I should have included this in the first post.)

More photos: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incid...

A lot of people are concerned about the amount of smoke the #woodardfire is kicking up behind Fox Drive right now. I'm guessing that is because of all of the backburning they're doing right now. This is what Kule Loklo looked like earlier.

More photos here:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incid...

Here is the summary of the video update from the #woodwardfire today (thx AW):

Today's update:

Total acres: 3,072, 15% containment

"Crews continued to secure firelines yesterday, conducting controlled burns both near Bear Valley trail, the Visitor Center and along Limantour Road. Operations to create firelines will continue today and tomorrow which are critical ahead of hotter weather predicted later in the week.

Evacuation orders remain for Silverhills, Fox Drive and Nolan Way, as the fire is 1/4 mile away from some structures in the area. Evacuation warnings remain for Inverness Park, Inverness, Seahaven and Olema.

For a summary of accurate air quality which compiles data from EPA and purple air monitors check out: https://fire.airnow.gov/"

English version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Spanish version:
(I will add when it is up.)

More photos and videos were just posted of the #woodwardfire in Point Reyes. Really gives a sense of what's going on in the park right now and where all that smoke is coming from.

Photo:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incid...

Video:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incid...

Via Point Reyes NPS: "A fire whirl is a spinning vortex of ascending hot air caused by a fire. Fire whirls range in size from less than 1ft to over 500ft in diameter. This one was seen today during the burn out operations near the Point Reyes National Seashore Visitor Center. #WoodwardFire"

VIDEO: https://twitter.com/PointReyes...

Coast guard and local fire looking for a boat that gave an SOS for taking on water off the coast possibly by Abbott's Lagoon.

To clarify, it was a "warning" the was lifted in Bolinas, not an order. The graphic that was previously posted is incorrect. All other orders and warnings are in place. (Thx SP)

"Evacuation Warning LIFTED for BOLINAS

At 12 noon on Saturday 8/29/2020 the Marin County Sheriffs Office in collaboration with the Woodward Fire Incident Command are lifting the evacuation warning for the community of Bolinas this includes: Hwy 1 South of Five Brooks, East to the Bolinas Ridge and South through the communities of Bolinas and Dog Town.

Other Evacuation Warnings and Orders around the fire remain in affect. Residents are encouraged to remain aware, ensure they are registered for www.alertmarin.org as this fire and the associated weather may require changes to areas covered by evacuation orders or warnings."

Link: https://nixle.us/alert/8213150...

From the video update;

"Today's report:

The #woodwardfire received additional support from 60-70 firefighters between yesterday and today. They are hard at work creating containment lines and slowly making progress on the north east and south edges of the fire. Progress has been slow due to heavy fuels and rough topography but has been aided by a marine layer and relatively light winds.

With the fog, our friend, dissipating over the next several days conditions will become hotter and dryer, testing the containment lines and increasing the intensity of the fire.

Due to unpredictable weather in this area and a lack of weather sensors, the incident command team is bringing in three weather stations to help forecast local conditions. One will be at Divide Meadow; one near the Environmental Education Center, and the third is TBD.

Current acreage: 3,072 with 10% containment
520 personnel; 13 crews; 33 engines; 6 helicopters and 2 planes

All evacuation warning orders and warnings remain in place." (Thx AW)

Spanish and English versions:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/...

#woodwardfire
UPDATED: August 29, 2020 [07:30am PDT]

Area Burned: 3,072 acres
Containment: 10%
Total Personnel: 521
"¢ Crews: 13
"¢ Engines: 33
"¢ Helicopters: 6
"¢ Planes: 2
"¢ Dozers: 5
"¢ Masticators: 3

Ground crews made good progress yesterday, as fire activity was relatively low to moderate due to the persistent humid marine layer that hung over most of the fire. Primary fire spread has been to the northeast, where firefighters completed burn out operations by drone and by hand. Air operations were grounded most of the day because fog and smoke hindered visibility.

LINK: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photo...

Heard a report of possible suspicious activity in Inverness Park this evening. Unknown people poking around a house under construction. The local authorities have been notified. Might not be anything, but worth keeping an eye out given the two folks that were caught in Inverness Park yesterday. Fires and evacuations can attract that sort of thing.

Some good links to help better understand how fire fighters are fighting the #woodwardfire and what the terminology means:

Fire terminology:
https://www.fs.fed.us/nwacfire...

How fighting wildfires works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

What is containment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

The 8/26 fire perimeter (light yellow) put together with the 8/28 fire perimeter (dark yellow) to show the progression of the #woodwardfire over the last couple of days. Dark yellow shows new areas.

Another very informative and important video update about the #woodwardfire this morning.

Total acres: 2860 with 8% containment

Summary: "The fire is still burning with the most activity taking place in the north eastern and south eastern edges. Slight growth of the fire yesterday occurred near the Z and Wittenberg trail.

Crews are now focusing on cleaning up the edges of the fire which will make them more defensible and easier to maintain over the coming weeks and months of hot weather. The approach is to use dozers, hand crews in hard to reach areas, and back burns.

All evacuation orders and warnings remain in place." (Thx AW)

FB VIDEO:
https://www.facebook.com/Point...

YOUTUBE VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/channe...

For the latest fire updates, be sure to tune in this morning:

REMINDER: The next #WoodwardFire briefing will take place this morning at 9:30am:
- Facebook Live: https://facebook.com/PointReye...
- Watch/Listen on Zoom http://zoom.us/Join or call (669) 900-6833 - Meeting ID: 951 6747 3562, Attendee ID: #, Password: 925738

On a lighter note, the WMF has nothing to do with and knows nothing about the WMM, but this made us laugh. If you don't get it, you don't spend a lot of time driving around here.

Not a lot of news to report about the #woodwardfire today. Two fire fighters were injured this morning from falling debris but not critically. On Olema Hill it was a strange combo of blue sky, fog coming over the ridge and smoke heading north towards Point Reyes Station. No new satellite or IR data either.

IMPORTANT: "Bolinas and Olema are not being evacuated. NBC mistakenly mixed up the "warning" and "order" on their broadcast. They will correct. No changes to the Evacuation Order and Warning status in West Marin due to the Woodward Fire." Via Amanda Eichstaedt at KWMR.

Update from Coastal Health Alliance 8/27~ "Effective 8/28/2020 & until further notice, CHA will resume limited in-person medical visits @ Point Reyes clinic along w/ tele-phonic visits for patient care. A medical provider will be available during normal business hours. Please call CHA's Call Center @ 415.663.8666 to be scheduled or referred to a Registered Nurse for triage. Above notice is subject to change, based on air quality. An additional notice will be sent out regarding resuming COVID-19 testing on Thursday mornings."

Watch the #woodwardfire press conference for important updates. The marine layer will be burning off this weekend which will put sun and heat back on the fire.

https://www.facebook.com/marin...

Kevin Cook is moving dirt to keep us safe. Incredible shots from the #woodwardfire in Point Reyes. More video and photos: https://instagram.com/p/CEYUo2...

The containment moved up to 8% this evening and the number of personnel on the fire jumped to 428. Size has only moved to 2,860 acres. (thx SP)

INCIDENT REPORT: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incid...

MAP: https://tinyurl.com/update826

The end of an era. Stellina closes forever tonight in Point Reyes Station. Thank you to Christian Caiazzo and all your amazing staff. We will miss you.

This is where they caught the female suspect way up on Drakes View Dr. in Inverness. Apparently the male suspect is still on the loose? "Looking for a white male, early 20's, 6'1, shaggy long hair, white T-shirt and blue jeans. Last seen running from stolen vehicle that crashed near Inverness. 1 person in custody, 1 not. If you see someone matching description 📱 911."

Via Marin County Sheriff "Looking for a white male, early 20's, 6'1, shaggy long hair, white T-shirt and blue jeans. Last seen running from stolen vehicle that crashed near Inverness. 1 person in custody, 1 not. If you see someone matching description 📱 911."

Something going in the park right now. Lots of CHP and rangers with lights moving at high speed. Anyone know what's going on? Pursuit?

Thick marine layer today. Fire grew very little yesterday. 2,739 acres and 5% containment.

REMINDER: The next #WoodwardFire briefing will take place this morning at 9:30am:
- Facebook Live: facebook.com/PointReyesNPS/
- Watch/Listen on Zoom zoom.us/Join or call (669) 900-6833 - Meeting ID: 951 6747 3562, Attendee ID: #, Password: 925738

Also live on KWMR 90.5 or www.kwmr.org

Super scoopers were back today fighting the #woodwardfire, but only for a couple of runs and then on way back, they dumped their water back onto Tomales Bay. Anyone know why they would do that? Switching fires? Lack of fuel?

A couple of more satellite hot spots were added to the map this afternoon near the Bear Valley Trail area. Those circles DO NOT represent the fire, they represent the margin of error of the location. SF Chronicle photographer Jessica Christian also posted some photos that shows what it looks like in that area. "Crews monitor weakened trees and flares during a back burn along the Bear Valley Trail as the #WoodwardFire burns in the hills west of #Olema #PointReyesStation"

LINK TO THE MAP:
https://tinyurl.com/woodwardfi...

LINK TO JESSICA CHRISTIAN TWEET:
https://twitter.com/jachristia...

Another great report from SF Chronicle reporter Jessica Christian:

"Checked on mandatory evacuated roads west of Point Reyes Station. No immediate fire threat to:

- Fox Drive
- Noren Way
- Silverhills Road

North #WoodwardFire line still holding 1+ miles south of Limantour Road. East line AT Bear Valley currently of concern. Lots of wind."

LINK: https://twitter.com/jachristia...

Jessica Christian, a photojournalist from the SF Chronicle, is now covering the #woodwardfire and posting a lot of great updates on Twitter. "Marin County Fire crews line up to hike one mile up Sky Trail to hold the #WoodwardFire line south of Limantour Road"

LINK: https://twitter.com/jachristia...

A lot of very good detail about the #woodwardfire progress in today's video update. 2,739 acres, 5% containment, 236 personnel. Last night's evac order for 90 homes was because of concern about the fire's northeastern ridge:

https://www.facebook.com/Point...