Wildfire prompts mandatory evacuations near Cloverdale

CLOVERDALE, Calif. (KGO) -- Firefighters are battling a wildfire near Cloverdale in unincorporated Sonoma County Sunday afternoon that has prompted mandatory evacuations.

The Sawmill Fire has grown to at least 1,500 acres and is only 10 percent contained.

The wildfire burned at least 500 acres earlier and quickly grew to 1,500 acres shortly after 6:00 p.m.

Officials said the wildfire broke out at 11 a.m. near Geysers and Geysers Resort roads, just 10 miles east of Cloverdale.

At least 36 homes have been evacuated since flames broke out.

It's unclear how the wildfire started, but crews seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

Crews said their aggressive air attacks from the beginning seemed to have slowed the fire down.

The area is under a red flag warning and some residents ABC7 News spoke with said they are nervous. "Because I had a dream last night that the house burned down and I've been around the Valley Fire and the Clayton Fire. It's very scary when you see it right at your back door," Cloverdale resident Brad Pitkin said.

"It was really gusty and things seemed to calm down just a little bit, which is helping firefighters, but we are still not out of the woods with how dry it is and the past five years of drought conditions," Cal Fire spokesperson Amy Head said.

No injuries have been reported and no structures have been damaged or destroyed at this time, Cal Fire Capt. Tiffany Mercado said.

Over 200 firefighters have been called in to battle this fire.

Bay City News contributed to this story.