[UPDATE 6:45 p.m.] Wildfire Burning Near Highway 128 Northwest of Boonville

The Monte Fire as seen from the Alert WildFire Whipple Ridge Camera

At approximately 5:25 p.m. reports began to emerge of a wildfire burning near the 4800 block of Monte Boyd Road northwest of Boonville along Highway 128.

The Incident Commander reported the Monte Fire is currently 1/4 acre burning at a slow rate of spread with one structure threatened and a low potential for extended spread.

A white column of smoke from the Monte Fire can be seen via the AlertWildfire Whipple Ridge camera.

Scanner traffic indicates that a Cal Fire helicopter spotted a white column of smoke. Other aircraft are also responding.

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 5:50 p.m.: The Incident Commander has canceled the responding aircraft and there is no threat to powerlines so PG&E has been canceled as well.

This is a screengrab of the Monte Fire’s initial flare-up around 5:25 p.m.

UPDATE 5:55 p.m.: The Incident Commander has estimated there will be a 4-5 hour commit time for mop-up of the Monte Fire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhE9P01KZco

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: At approximately 6:40 p.m. the Anderson Valley Fire Department Facebook page posted that the Monte Fire’s forward progress had been stopped and crews were actively working on mop-up control.