photo credit: Sonoma County

UPDATE: at 6:06 PM, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office announced all shelter-in-place orders are lifted. Roads will remain closed as crews continue the investigation. 

INITIAL STORY 4:30 PM WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28, 2026

Due to a potential gas leak....there is currently a shelter-in-place order in effect for some evacuation zones south and east of Santa Rosa.

The latest alert issued to cell phones says Sonoma County evacuation zone 3-M-1 is particularly impacted....ordering people there to get and stay inside.

A potential hazardous gas leak was reported to first responders shortly before 4 PM, according to the Sonoma County Fire Protection District's Karen Hancock.

"So right now we are investigating for a possible hydrogen cyanide leak here in the 3900 block of Santa Rosa Avenue," Hancock told KRCB News via phone.

Rohnert Park police say there's no shelter in place effective within Rohnert Park city limits. Same goes for Sebastopol; at 4:51, the city of Sebastopol sent an email alert saying, "Many have been receiving a shelter-place-alert on there cell phones within the last hour.  At this time there is NO shelter-in-place order for Sebastopol.  More information is available from the Sonoma County Fire District (https://www.facebook.com/sonomacountyfd) and SoCo Alerts."

At 5 p.m., Santa Rosa officials sent an email message saying there is no threat to the city of Santa Rosa.

Sonoma County fire and emergency officials issued an alert at 4:15 p.m. about a hazmat situation...calling shelter in place orders.

"So it's a pretty large area that we're asking to shelter in place just as a precautionary while we confirm what the actual material is," Hancock said. 

According to SoCoEmergency.org affected areas are: unincorporated north and northwest Rohnert Park, unincorporated southeast Santa Rosa, Taylor Mountain Regional Park, Bennett Valley, unincorporated east Rohnert Park and Sonoma Mountain. Shelter in place remains in effect for Sonoma County evacuation zones 5E1, 5E2, 5A2, 5B1, 3P1, 3Q1, 3N1, 5D1 and 3M1.

The County of Sonoma says crews are evaluating the situation to determine what further action is needed.

Emergency personnel are advising residents to close windows and turn on air condition if you can.

This is a developing story and we will add information here and on the air as it becomes available.