Oak Fire burning near Willits prompts mandatory evacuation orders

WILLITS, Calif. (KIEM) — Cal Fire is currently battling the Oak Fire in Mendocino County near Willits, and evacuation orders for surrounding areas have been issued.

According to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, mandatory evacuation orders are in place for parts of Willits. This area includes the intersection of Main Street and Sherwood Road, northwest to 3rd Gate Road, east to Highway 101 and Shimmins Ridge Road south to Appliance Lane including Ryan Creek, south to Reynolds Highway, and South Sherwood Road to Main Street. The western part of Brooktails is also under an evacuation order. This includes west of Sherwood Road, north of Willits, east of Ridge Road, and south of Timber Road.

Highway 101 is closed in both directions. The northbound closure is at the north end of the Willits Bypass, and the southbound closure is at the turnoff for Covelo at Route 162.

The fire first broke out around 1:30 Monday afternoon west of Highway 101 near Big John and Skyview Road near Willits and the Brooktrails Township. The blaze has already grown to 1,000 acres and is 0 percent contained. So far, one structure has been destroyed. The cause is under investigation.