Full Breakdown
Feliz Fire Threatens Hopland, Triggers Evacuations and Highway Closure
8/3/2026, 12:51:41 PM
The Blaze Ignites Near Hopland
On Saturday, August 1, 2026, a wildfire ignited near Feliz Creek Road, northwest of Hopland in southern Mendocino County. Cal Fire reported the fire was first spotted at about 3:40 p.m., rapidly expanding to roughly 500 acres within two hours and later reaching at least 872 acres, according to a county news release. Hot, windy conditions and temperatures above 90 °F fueled the fast spread.
Evacuations, Road Closures, and Firefighting Efforts
Mendocino County officials issued the first evacuation advisory at approximately 4:20 p.m., expanding warnings to the north, east, and south of the fire front. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office directed residents from County Road 110 to Duncan Springs to be ready to flee, and a temporary shelter was opened at the County Office of Education in Ukiah. Highway 101 was closed from Burke Hill Road to the junction with State Highway 175, then reopened at 9 p.m. Saturday. Cal Fire deployed three night-flying helicopters, a Chinook air tanker, and ground crews, including the Howard Forest Helitack team, to halt forward progress. By 11 p.m., slower winds and higher humidity helped crews contain the blaze.
Containment Progress and Injuries
Cal Fire announced the fire was 30 % contained by Sunday evening, while earlier reports on Saturday evening listed it as 5 % contained and 550 acres in size. No structures were reported lost. Sherri Wise, Cal Fire Mendocino Unit spokesperson, confirmed that aircraft continued dropping retardant on remaining hotspots Sunday. An injured firefighter was air-lifted from the scene; details on the injury were not released.
Air Quality Impacts Beyond Mendocino
The Sonoma County Health Officer issued a health advisory warning that smoke from the fire could produce “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” or “Unhealthy” air quality across northern Sonoma County and surrounding regions. Residents were urged to monitor local air-quality indexes, as high temperatures can exacerbate health effects.
Official Updates and Ongoing Investigation
Mendocino County directed the public to mendoready.org for evacuation information and to fire.ca.gov for fire-status updates. The cause of the Feliz Fire remains under investigation, with authorities stating no definitive origin has been identified.
