Point Fire Update: Ag Pass activated, poor air quality expected

Smoke from the 10,000 acre Sites Fire in Colusa County has deteriorated air quality in some parts of Sonoma and surrounding counties.

photo credit: Cal Fire LNU
Aerial photo of the Point Fire burning near Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County.

Sonoma County officials have activated the county's Agricultural Pass system.

The Ag Pass program allows workers to access areas under mandatory evacuation orders.

Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner Andrew Smith explained.

"The program provides for the potential for a cardholder to seek access to an area of the county that may be subject to an evacuation order," Smith said. "For the purposes of essential or critical agricultural activities."

Smith said this isn't the first time Ag Access Passes have been activated.

"The Agricultural Access Verification program had iterations in previous fire episodes in 2017, 2019, and 2020," Smith said.

Despite the concentration of vineyards and wineries in the current evacuated area due to the Point Fire, Smith said the number of Ag Pass users entering is likely to be low.

"197 Ag Access Verification cards have been issued to date," Smith said. "We reviewed the records and identified that there was probably about a dozen entities that would need to access the area that was subject to the evacuation order as part of the Point Fire."

Sonoma County Sheriff's Office deputies allow road access for Ag Pass holders.

The agency said it does not keep records on how many pass holders enter an evacuated area, only insuring they exit after completing their work.

Smith did note that employers are required to keep a record of Ag Pass use.

While the current evacuation zone area remains closed to residents, the Sheriff's Office said it is working with officials from Cal Fire to lift evacuation orders in the Dry Creek Valley and enable residents to return to their homes as soon as possible.

Because of the Point Fire, and the Sites Fire in Colusa County, an air quality advisory will remain in place for Wednesday because of wildfire smoke.

The Sites Fire, sparked Monday, consumed 10,000 acres of land by Tuesday afternoon, according to Cal Fire.

photo credit: Cal Fire LNU
Incident map shows containment lines on the Point Fire in north Sonoma County as of 7 A.M. on
June 18th, 2024.

The Bay Area Air District said that smoke will impact portions of Solano, Napa and Sonoma counties through the end of the day Wednesday.

Sonoma County health officials are warning residents about poor air quality, and advise limiting outdoor activities and exercise, staying hydrated, and avoiding activities which could further harm air quality like wood burning or mowing.

As of 6 P.M. Tuesday, the Point Fire had burned about 1,200 acres, and was 40% contained.

Updates on the Point and Sites fires, as well as air quality, wind maps, and PG&E outages can be found on the KRCB Firecast page .