https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/Wildfire-Kincade-Sonoma-County-Geysers-14558378.php

By Amy Graff, SFGATE

Updated 11:48 pm PDT, Wednesday, October 23, 2019

A wildfire ignited after 9 p.m. Wednesday in rural northern Sonoma County northeast of Healdsburg and southeast of Cloverdale.

The Kincade Fire is centered at Burned Mountain Road at Kincade Road, near the Geysers (see map in gallery above). The wind-driven blaze had scorched roughly 1,000 acres as of 11:30 p.m., according to Cal Fire officials.

The flames are racing through hilly terrain with elevation levels up to 3,000 feet.

Evacuations have been ordered east of Geyserville, including Geysers Road to Highway 128, Pine Flat Road, and Red Winery Road. "Leave immediately if you are in or near these roads," a statement from the Sonoma County Sheriff says.

The River Rock Casino near Highway 128 has evacuated.

An evacuation warning is in effect for northern Healdsburg and Geyserville.

Cal Fire spokesperson Jonathan Cox told KTVU-TV, the fire is "moving at what we consider a critical rate" amid windy conditions.

Cox said the winds are making it difficult for aircraft to help fight the fire.

"Right now, the focus is on evacuations," he said. "The real priority is life. Getting people out of the way and targetting opportunities to protect structures and communities. When the wind dies down, we will actually engage in perimeter control. We can't take a fire head-on when winds are blowing at 60 mph."

Forecasters say winds in the area of the fire were blowing at 40 to 60 mph.

SFGATE will update the story as more details become available.

Amy Graff is a digital editor for SFGATE. Email her at agraff@sfgate.com.