Bay Area Topographical Fire Maps

Bennett Valley and Bennett Ridge are significantly threatened by dense fuels and steep topography including chutes and canyons that lead directly up to 250 homes atop the Bennett Ridge area.

Click on the image to the right to view a larger picture of the Bennett Valley Topo map and to see what Firescape has done to help the residents who live there.

Click the image to view a larger topographical map.

Cloverdale's fire weather is governed by its boxed-in effects although North winds occuring in this area especially on Cherry Creek Rd. and the newer west Cloverdale developements are more threatened by a fire occuring between them and Lake Sonoma.

As one can see, a westerly wind pushed by the inflow of cooler marine air (fog) will drive a vegetation fire directly toward Cloverdale.

Click the image to view a larger topographical map.

Fountain Grove was the center of a terrible fire once before. At that time there were few homes in the area. As one can see now from the topo map, not only are there many streets with many homes but they are on the ridge tops in canyons and chutes.

A fire moving upslope from the Eastern Valley floor below will surely take out many homes and keep firefighters busy for weeks. Residents in this area need to go to great lengths to reduce the fuel loading and prepare their homes for a very large fire. Compare a vegetation fire in Fountain Grove to the Fire that occured in the Oakland Berkeley Hills. Large loss of life and structures predicted.

Click the image to view a larger topographical map.

Guerneville is most threatened by North / East winds driving a fire toward town.

It is also highly susceptible to a conflagratory type fire when high pressure has kept the fog off of the coast for a period of days. This will allow fuel moistures to drop to critical levels. When the high speed wind flow to the interior occurs (the fog moving inland) fires will be more influenced by the high wind speeds and will not be immediately calmed by the moisture accompanying the fog.

Click the image to view a larger topographical map.

Occidental differs from Guerneville in that it can create a box canyon effect trapping the heat inside. This allows for hotter fires that will make significant runs through continuous fuels. Winds in this area will only intensify fuel driven fires in this area. High probability for a large number of residential structures to be lost in the Occidental area.

Click the image to view a larger topographical map.

Healdsburg is especially prone to wildfires that consume homes and property.

As seen in this topographical map, Fitch Mountain. is a high fire danger area because it has slopes facing all directions of the compass and is thus susceptible to North, South, East and Westerly or Marine inflow winds. Fires in the Fitch Mtn. area have a high probability of consuming homes.

Click the image to view a larger topographical map.

The area between Hilton and west to Route 116.

Due to poor access, high fuel loading and coastal winds, a roadside fire on 116 will make its way through to the Hilton area and Korbel Winery area in no time at all.

The light flashy fuels intermixed with heavier oak woodland fuels create a perfect mixture of fuel and topography that will allow for a fast moving fire. This area will probably lose a few houses when a fire occurs in this area.

Click the image to view a larger topographical map.

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