The Ledson Fire: A Simple Guide for Everyone

What Is Happening?

A wildfire (a big, uncontrolled fire in nature) started on Monday afternoon in the hilly area east of a city called Santa Rosa. People living nearby were told to leave their homes right away to stay safe.

Where Did the Fire Start?

The fire is named the Ledson Fire. Here are the simple location details:

• It began around 1 p.m. near a road called Pythian Road.
• This spot is at the northern end of Sonoma Valley.
• It is on the western side of the Mayacacamas Mountains (a line of hills that separates Sonoma and Napa counties).
• It is in a rural (country-like) area east of Santa Rosa’s city limits.

How Big Is the Fire?

Think of an acre as about the size of a football field. Right now:

• The fire is about 13 acres big (like 13 football fields).
• It is spreading at a moderate speed (not super fast, not super slow).
• It is moving uphill toward the east.
• The weather when it started: light winds and temperatures around 90°F (low 90s).

Why Is the Fire Moving the Way It Is?

The fire is slope-driven. That means the fire is climbing up the hill slope—heat and the hill shape push it upward.

It is also burning in the exact footprint of two huge fires from the past:

• The 2017 Nuns Fire
• The 2020 Glass Fire

So the land already had burn scars from those older fires.

Firefighters Are on the Job

Cal Fire (the group that fights fires in California) sent people and machines quickly. Spokesperson Jason Clay said:

• Help from the air (like planes or helicopters) and ground (fire trucks and crews) is already there.
• More air and ground support is on the way.

Important Evacuation Notice

LEAVE NOW IF YOU ARE IN THIS ZONE!
An official evacuation order (a command to leave for safety) has been given for:
Emergency Zone: SON-3H1 – Southern Alpine Valley
This area includes:

• South Timberland Drive
• The land east of Los Alamos Road
• The land west of the Napa County line
• Hood Mountain Regional Park

Authorities advise leaving immediately. Do not wait.

Is Santa Rosa City in Danger?

• Smoke can be seen inside the city of Santa Rosa, and even as far west as a town called Sebastopol.
• But officials say the city itself is not threatened by the flames.
• No evacuation orders are in place for Santa Rosa city.

Weather: Friend or Foe?

The weather is a mixed bag:

• It is hot and dry (temperatures in the low 90s).
• A heat advisory (a warning that it’s dangerously hot) will start Tuesday morning, says meteorologist Brian Garcia from the National Weather Service.
• However, the wind is light and variable (changing direction) at 4–5 miles per hour, with gusts up to 8 mph. This calm wind helps firefighters because the fire won’t blow around wildly.
• Overnight, temperatures will stay higher than usual because of monsoon moisture (wet air from seasonal rains far away) that “flattens the temperature curve.” This means warmer nights than normal.

See the Fire in Action

A video from the scene is available here: Watch on YouTube

Step-by-Step: How the Story Unfolded

1. Monday around 1 p.m.: Ledson Fire starts near Pythian Road in the hills east of Santa Rosa.
2. Same afternoon: Cal Fire sizes it up at about 13 acres, moving east uphill with light winds and low 90s heat.
3. Quick response: Fire crews and aircraft arrive; more air and ground help requested.
4. Evacuation order: Zone SON-3H1 (Southern Alpine Valley) told to leave immediately.
5. Weather note: Heat advisory expected Tuesday; winds calm, helping crews; warm nights ahead due to monsoon moisture.
6. Ongoing: This is a developing story—check back for updates.

Summary

A new wildfire called the Ledson Fire began Monday afternoon east of Santa Rosa near Pythian Road. It is small (13 acres) but moving uphill in an area that burned before in the 2017 Nuns and 2020 Glass fires. People in Southern Alpine Valley (Zone SON-3H1) must evacuate now. Santa Rosa city is safe from flames but may see smoke. Weather is hot, yet light winds are helping firefighters. More help is arriving, and we should watch for updates.

FAQ

1. What does “evacuation order” mean?
It means police or fire officials are telling people in a specific area to leave their homes right away because it is too dangerous to stay.

2. Why is the wind speed important?
Wind can push fire to spread faster and change direction. Here, the wind is very light (4–5 mph), so it is easier for firefighters to predict and stop the fire.

3. What are the Nuns Fire and Glass Fire?
They were two very large wildfires that happened in the same general area in 2017 and 2020. The Ledson Fire is now burning in the leftover burned land from those events.

4. Will the heat make the fire worse?
Hot and dry weather can help fire grow, but the calm winds right now are balancing that by making the fire easier to fight. A heat advisory just means people should be careful with the heat.

5. Where can I watch a video of the fire?
You can view it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y1hoDv9bxM

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.