Woods Fire north of Redway threatens structures, crews respond

Smoke rose from the 400 block of Wood Ranch Rd north of Redway as CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte Unit and local fire crews responded to the Woods Fire. The blaze threatened structures in the rural corridor, and people along Wood Ranch Road between Redway and Bear Buttes needed to watch for changing fire behavior and smoke over the next several hours.

CAL FIRE listed the Woods Fire in Humboldt County as starting July 19, burning 14 acres and reaching 50% containment. The agency had an active incident page for the fire on July 20, showing crews were still working the incident as it developed north of Redway.

The fire hit a stretch of southern Humboldt where homes, driveways and outbuildings sit close to dry vegetation. The cause was under investigation, leaving open how the blaze started in an area that can turn from a roadside ignition into a structure threat quickly when fuels are dry.

Wood Ranch Road has seen similar fire activity before. On Oct. 6, 2024, another fire broke out between Redway and Bear Buttes on the same road, underscoring how often this corridor becomes vulnerable when summer conditions dry out the brush and timber along the roadway.