One of the fires is west of Tijuana, another is northwest of Ensenada, and the third is south of Tecate.
Smoke from the Tick Fire at Santa Clarita is expected to affect Oxnard and western Los Angeles.
![smoke wildfire southern California and northwest Mexico.](https://wildfiretoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Smoke_CA_Mexico_5pmPDT_10-25.jpg)
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The fires are south and southeast of San Diego, California
One of the fires is west of Tijuana, another is northwest of Ensenada, and the third is south of Tecate.
Smoke from the Tick Fire at Santa Clarita is expected to affect Oxnard and western Los Angeles.
Possibly the strongest wind event of the fall season will occur in northern California Saturday morning into Monday
UPDATED at 6:09 p.m. PDT October 25, 2019
The map above is the forecast for the distribution of near surface smoke at 4 a.m. PDT October 26, in the San Francisco area and south as far as Santa Barbara.
7:56 a.m. PDT October 25, 2019
Forecasters predict that smoke from the Kincade and Tick Fires will heavily affect some locations in northern and southern California Friday. Especially affected will be the San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose north to Santa Rosa, including the city of San Francisco.
Smoke from prescribed burning will be noticed by residents in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
Red Flag Warnings will continue in Southern California until Friday night.
Very strong, dry winds are in the forecast for northern California beginning Saturday morning. This wind event which will continue into Monday is being described as “likely the strongest wind storm of the fall season” with northeast to east winds of 30 to 40 mph gusting at 45 to 70. The Watch areas in the map above will probably be upgraded to Red Flag Warnings by late Friday or Saturday morning.
(Red Flag Warnings can be modified throughout the day as NWS offices around the country update and revise their weather forecasts.)
UPDATED at 9:23 a.m. PDT Oct. 25, 2019
The Los Angeles County Fire Department reported at 7 a.m. PDT Oct. 25 that the Tick Fire at Santa Clarita had burned approximately 4,300 acres including the portion that spread to the south across the 14 freeway overnight, forcing the closure of the road.
At 9:20 a.m. Friday the fire activity had decreased significantly and very little additional spreading was occurring.
About 574 firefighting personnel are assigned to the fire from all over the state. Damage assessment teams have started documenting the structures that have been destroyed or damaged.
Approximately 40,000 residents are under evacuation orders. Officials are working to identify areas that can be repopulated safely.
6:33 a.m. PDT October 25, 2019
The Tick Fire near Santa Clarita jumped across the 14 freeway at about 2:30 Friday morning, requiring it to be closed in both directions between Golden Valley and Escondido Canyon. Additional evacuations have been ordered. The map above shows the perimeter at 9 p.m. October 24 before it crossed the freeway.
At 9 p.m. on Thursday the Tick Fire had burned 3,739 acres, but the growth of the fire to the south and across the freeway during the night may have added another 500 to 1,000 acres.
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Tick Fire, including the most recent, click here.)
The Santa Ana winds are expected to continue Friday, gusting across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties at 40 to 65 mph. Wind speeds of 33 mph gusting to 54 were recorded at the Warm Springs weather station northeast of Castaic overnight.
#TickFire Night Operations water drops assisting with structure procreation and perimeter control @LACoFDPIO @Angeles_NF #LAWind @LASDHQ @CHP_HQ @SCVSignal media has permission w credit. Follow @LACoFDPIO for official information pic.twitter.com/P9WkbT4a3q
— Michael Dubron (@MichaelDubron) October 25, 2019
The Tick, Old, and Verde fires were being pushed by strong winds
6:16 p.m. PDT October 24, 2019
At least three wildfires were actively spreading on the north side of Los Angeles in Santa Clarita’s Canyon Country Thursday afternoon. At 5:35 the Los Angeles County Fire Department said the largest of the three, the Tick Fire, had burned 3,000 acres. (see map above) By 5:45 p.m. the fires were not spreading as quickly as they were three hours before.
TV news helicopters have shown images of burning homes. Wind-blown embers have started spot fires long distances ahead of the main fire. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for residents in some locations both north and south of the 14 freeway.
#TickFire (LA County) – Huge column coming off this fire now w/ reports of fire already in the Brandywine Canyon Rd area near Sierra Hwy per 911 callers. pic.twitter.com/VJFF3fe2s2
— CA Fire Scanner (@CAFireScanner) October 24, 2019
Early Thursday afternoon the Saugus weather station recorded winds out of the north-northeast of 18 to 26 mph gusting at 32 to 48. The temperature was 83 degrees with 4 percent humidity. By 5:45 p.m. the wind had slowed to 14 mph gusting to 28, still out of the north-northeast. The humidity was 4 percent.
Two other blazes, the Old and Verde Fires, are also being suppressed in the Castaic area west of Interstate 5. The Verde Fire was stopped after it burned one acre and four travel trailers. The Old Fire required the northbound lanes of Interstate 8 to be shut down. Its name was changed to Tick Branch 10.
**UPDATE** BRUSH FIRE #TickBranch10 | FS149 | Northbound 5 at Lake Hughes Rd #Castaic | @CHPsouthern reporting shutdown of Northbound 5 at Lake Hughes. Southbound 5 remains open. #LACoFD
— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) October 24, 2019
VIDEO: @LACoFireAirOps Firehawk helicopters fighting wildfire on three fronts. Working to protect lives and property earlier in Santa Clarita, CA. #TickFire @LACoFDPIO (media ok to use with credit) pic.twitter.com/XZEOlS3ZxL
— LACoFireAirOps (@LACoFireAirOps) October 25, 2019
A fire camera captured the outbreak of the #TickFire. This three-hour time lapse shows the period from 1:33pm to 4:32pm Thursday. (Courtesy of https://t.co/TpIgwJ1wM1) https://t.co/bIMYlUM49o pic.twitter.com/SHwulfCLAh
— LAist (@LAist) October 24, 2019
Thursday morning there were very few wildfires producing large quantities of smoke, however the Kincade Fire 63 miles north of San Francisco has the potential to become an air quality problem for residents in northern California especially on Friday.
There is a surprising amount of smoke in the Northwest, especially in Idaho, Oregon, and western Montana presumably created by extensive prescribed burning.
Heads Up, Bay Area! Although the #KincadeFire isn’t causing smoke issues over the Bay Area today, shifting winds tomorrow will likely cause the smoke to be directly over much of the region. Impacts to SFO may begin as early as 11am Friday. pic.twitter.com/3tlCIXIC5r
— NWS CWSU Oakland (@NWSCWSUZOA) October 24, 2019
New mapping shows the fire has burned 19,529 acres
UPDATED at 5:56 p.m. PDT October 25, 2019
The Kincade Fire was active Friday afternoon, and became more so after 3 p.m., sending up a very large column of smoke.
There are reports that during that period of enhanced activity Friday afternoon several firefighters and civilians took refuge in fire shelters that were deployed. Radio conversations indicated that it took place on Pine Flat Road on the east side of the fire. A number of ground and air ambulances were dispatched to the scene but apparently there were no injuries. This is all preliminary information and could change. It is not confirmed by CAL FIRE.
UPDATED at 11:26 a.m. PDT October 25, 2019
CAL FIRE reports that the Kincade Fire east of Geyserville in northern California has blackened 21,900 acres and destroyed 49 structures. About 735 structures are still threatened.
Evacuations have been ordered for about 2,000 people, including the entire town of Geyserville. All roads east of Highway 101 in the Geyserville area are closed.
From ABC7:
A CAL FIRE incident commander says the fire started near the Geysers Geothermal Plant, but they don’t know if the plant had anything to do with it. Firefighters also said they do not know if the PG&E power shutoff was in effect in the area at the time the blaze started.
According to a report filled by PG&E, they became aware of “Transmission level” outages on their Geysers line. On site CAL FIRE personnel brought to PG&E’s crew’s attention what appeared to be a broken jumper on the same tower.
At least three large air tankers, a P2, BAe-146, and an MD87, are working the #KincadeFire in NoCal, plus at least one S-2 and multiple helicopters. Here’s a photo by an Alert Wildfire cam, taken at 10:44 a.m. today. pic.twitter.com/TZwpZOApUE
— Fire Aviation (@FireAviation) October 25, 2019
Resources assigned to the fire include 77 fire engines, 10 water tenders, 12 helicopters, 38 hand crews, and 32 dozers for a total of 1,283 personnel.
UPDATED at 11:14 a.m. PDT October 24, 2019
Weather forecasters expect the strong north-northeast winds pushing the Kincade Fire to slowly decrease by midday and through the afternoon. Afternoon highs will be near record levels in the low 90s. Humidity values will remain critically low in the single digits even with light offshore winds later this afternoon. North winds at 5 to 10 mph will continue Thursday night and Friday.
A stronger offshore wind event will arrive Saturday night into Sunday with damaging winds and critical fire weather conditions.
9:18 a.m. PDT October 24, 2019
The Kincade Fire, first reported at 9:27 Wednesday night northeast of Geyserville, California has forced the evacuation of the entire town with a population of about 862 people. At 4 a.m. Thursday CAL FIRE estimated the fire had burned about 10,000 acres.
The fire is 63 miles north of San Francisco.
The rapidly spreading fire is being pushed by strong north-northeast winds with sustained speeds of 45 to 60 mph with a maximum gust of 76 mph at the Healdsburg Hills North weather station. Overnight the humidity has been in the low teens with temperatures around 70.
Some structures have burned but the number is unknown. The Press Democrat reported that spot fires were starting far ahead of the main fire:
Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said an ember was thrown about a mile from the fire front onto a home off Red Winery Road that was destroyed.
The Sonoma County Sheriff sent an alert at 6:23 a.m. Thursday announcing the immediate evacuation of Geyserville, saying the Kincade Fire had crossed Highway 128 near Moody Lane and was heading west. Earlier homes were evacuated in several areas east of Geyserville. Evacuation centers were established at Healdsburg Community Center and Windsor High School.
There is a report that the fire started near one of the geothermal power plants.
The photos below were taken by the Alert Wildfire network at around 7:54 a.m. PDT October 24.
Not what we want to see, but inevitable. #KincadeFire burning right next to power lines. pic.twitter.com/1PDzLtLh0E
— Eric Shackelford (@ABC7Shack) October 24, 2019
The #KincadeFire is burning on both sides of Geysers Road and has already consumed over 10,000 acres. Homes are starting to burn along Red Winery Road. @GettyImagesNews pic.twitter.com/xWcts5xWIB
— Justin Sullivan (@sullyfoto) October 24, 2019
Losing structures, Red winery Road, #kincadefire @NorthBayNews pic.twitter.com/VdICjyxMdB
— Kent Porter (@kentphotos) October 24, 2019