[UPDATE 5:54 p.m.: Now 5-10 Acres] Vegetation Burns Along Railroad Tracks on the North End of Ukiah

Saturday, 10 July 2021, 5:35 pm Matt LaFever 2 comments

Black smoke rises near a mill site in northern Ukiah. [Photo from a Ukiah resident]

At approximately 4:50 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to a vegetation fire burning along Ukiah’s North State Street near the Thurston’s Auto car dealership.

Initial reports described the fire as one acre in size and burning along a railroad track. The Incident Commander reported the fire had the potential to spread 10-15 acres.

[Photo from a Ukiah resident]

According to CA Fire Scanner— a private site but a respected, long-term commenter on fires– this incident is known as the Pallini Fire. The site described how the Incident Command had requested a helicopter to assist with water drops and a single air tanker was overhead then returned to Ukiah. The fire was described as having “limited potential boxed in by the creek, roads & industrial properties, final update unless something changes.”

At one point in the AlertFire Redwood Valley webcam, a column of black smoke could be seen burning.

[Photo from a Ukiah resident]

A reader told us there has been a single firefighting aircraft on scene and as of 5:24 p.m. the fire seems “mostly out.” The reader said it was “shocking how fast it burned up the entire field. Like from nothing to black in five minutes.”

[Screenshot from AlertWildfire]

Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.

UPDATE 5:46 p.m.: An updated acreage provided by the Incident Commander over the scanner estimated the fire at this point has burned 5-10 acres.

UPDATE 5:54 p.m.: Video by Briann Boatwright