10:31 a.m. PST Feb. 11, 2022
Firefighters in Northern California had assistance from a Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter Thursday night as they were finding the best route to hike to the Terrace Fire near Monte Rio. It was reported at about 9 p.m. on a slope above Highway 116. The helicopter known as Henry 1 used its spotlight to direct the personnel as they hiked through the densely forested area.
When crews reached the blaze at about 11 p.m. they reported it had burned about one acre. Friday morning the Alert Wildfire camera at Siri showed that it is still generating a fair amount of smoke which is being blown close to the ground by the wind.
The fire is about 14 miles west-northwest of Santa Rosa.
The Press Democrat reported Friday morning that Stephane Lunsford, a public information officer for CAL FIRE, said crews had completed a line around 85 percent of the fire.
Kent Porter (@kentphotos) shot some very interesting photos Thursday night. Here are a couple. Click on them twice to see larger versions:
Extremely tough access for fire crews Thurs. in a heavily forested area of Monte Rio, so @sonomasheriff Henry 1 illuminated the way for firefighters (it’s a walk in show to put the fire out). This is one of those times I backed off and looked for the artsy moment. @NorthBayNews pic.twitter.com/zjLYcZUYuG
— Kent Porter (@kentphotos) February 11, 2022
Our take:
A one-acre fire is not huge news. We don’t often hear about fires like this. But it’s an example of how firefighters are usually successful in keeping fires small, even when it requires hiking for hours at night through dense woods to find and then put out a fire.
In addition, it’s a fire in early February, far outside the traditional fire season in Northern California. But also the images are fascinating — the infrared photo showing the spotlight from the helicopter, smoke from the fire the next morning, and especially the great photos taken by Mr. Porter.
