[UPDATE 7:45 p.m.: 36 Acres and 60% Contained] Evacuations, Hwy 1 Shut Down After Multi-Acre Owens Fire Begins in Mendocino County Near the Coast

Smoke rising from the Owens Fire as seen on the AlertWildfire camera.

A little after 3 p.m. a fire was reported off Hwy 1 in the area of Bill Owens Road near Point Arena. According to a Nixle alert by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department Hwy 1 is shut down. They are asking travelers to avoid the area. According to the CHP Traffic Incident Information Page, cones are set up from Schooner Gulch to Bill Owens Road. As of 4:30 p.m., the fire is 12 acres and growing. Evacuations (see map) are underway. We’ll update with the parameters when we have them.

Air attack is circling the fire as scene on FlightRadar.

Multiple aircraft are either on the fire or headed to it. Air Attack 110 is circling the fire and Tankers 91 and 100 are assigned to the fire as are Copter 104 and 910.

In what may be an unrelated incident, about a half hour before the fire started, about 26 PG&E customers in the area lost power. A strike team is forming in Humboldt County is forming to assist. As of 4:30 p.m., the fire is 12 acres and growing.

UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department is tweeting parameters for the evacuations. https://twitter.com/MendoSheriff/status/1527800757860417537

UPDATE 5:25 p.m.: According to Lauren Schmitt from KMUD, about Sheriff Kendall says 60 residents are impacted by the evacuations. In addition, scanner information and Caltrans QuickMap shows traffic is backing up on Hwy 1 after the closure in the area of Gallaway.

Traffic back up on either side of Gallaway. [Screengrab from QuickMap]

UPDATE 6:16 p.m.: CALFIRE Mendocino Unit Chie Luke Kendall told us the Owens Fire has burned between 20-30 acres, but emphasized that information is preliminary.

While speaking with Chief Kendall, he learned that firefighters have successfully made a line around the fire, though spots are continuing to develop.

The fire has been primarily in timber and has been fed by the high winds buffeting the coast. Firefighters will be on scene throughout the night and into tomorrow mopping up the fire, Chief Kendall told us.

UPDATE 7:17 p.m.: According to Cal Fire, the Owens Fire is 30 acres and 5% contained.

UPDATE 7:55 p.m.: A message from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department states, “Forward progress stopped. Evacuation order to remain in effect overnight.”

They go on to state, “Fire suppression operations and mop up continue….If you live within the evacuation area and need shelter assistance, then please call 707-510-1556…Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.”

UPDATE 8:01 p.m.:

Owens Fire at 3:54 p.m. today. [Picture credit to Melinda G. Scott]

UPDATE 9:04 p.m.: Caltrans QuickMap shows Hwy 1 is still closed with no estimated time of reopening. However the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reports, “Owens Fire Update (vicinity of Point Arena): Evacuation Order Lifted. Response personnel will continue to patrol the area throughout the night…No damages reported at this time. Please continue to use caution if you are traveling through the area.”

UPDATE 10:47 p.m.: Cal Fire put out their current information on the fire. UPDATE 8:35 a.m.: Caltrans Quickmap shows Hwy 1 is now open to one way controlled traffic. According to the ONCC, the Owens Fire is “36 acres Timber, 20% contained. All threats have been mitigated and Evacuation Orders lifted. Forward spread of the fire has been stopped and minimal fire behavior was observed overnight.”