Some who came were familiar with the spot, like the Herrons and the Sandovals, who pitched two small tents to accommodate their family of eight.

“Because of the smoke we came here,” Mr. Sandoval said. He said he believed his home in Windsor, near Santa Rosa, was undamaged, but he did not know for sure. On Friday he was sitting outside his tent under cypress trees, just a stone’s throw from the shimmering sea, as his four children played nearby. “I knew we would be safe,” he said.

As word spread of the evacuees’ arrival, local residents began showing up with tents, blankets, sleeping bags, coats, firewood and toys. A nonprofit, Ceres Community Project, began delivering hot meals.

Nearly 200 breakfasts were delivered the first two mornings, said Amanda Bryant, who owns a curio store and took it upon herself to run the volunteer operation at the beach.

Officials began urging people to go indoors. On Wednesday, the Sonoma County sheriff, Rob Giordano, said at a news conference that everyone was welcome in shelters, and that no questions about immigration status would be asked. Lynda Hopkins, a member of the county board of supervisors, paid a visit to the beach Thursday, bringing the same message.