Evacuations Underway in Northern California as Multiple Large Western Wildfires Spread

The National Preparedness Level stands at 3 as wildland fire agencies manage dozens of large active incidents across multiple geographic areas. Wildfire activity for the season to date continues to outpace the ten-year average in both total ignitions and burned area. Firefighting personnel and international incident support teams from Australia and New Zealand remain heavily committed across the West and the South.

Significant Fires

• Lucas Fire (California) — Burning in Lake and Mendocino counties, the fire is spreading through rugged timber under Red Flag conditions, prompting mandatory evacuations, emergency forest closures, and highway shutdowns. Firefighters and night-flying helicopters are defending threatened communities while an evacuation shelter operates at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
• Timber Fire (California) — The fire continues to burn in the Los Padres National Forest along California's Big Sur coast, where hundreds of structures along Highway 1 remain threatened. Suppression operations are ongoing despite several reported firefighter injuries.
• Moonshine Fire (Wyoming) — Ignited by lightning in the Laramie Range, this uncontained fire is advancing through timber in Albany and Platte counties and has destroyed two minor structures. Crews are cutting dozer lines and conducting tactical firing operations above Cooney Hill Road to protect threatened residences.
• Ross Fire (Texas) — Firefighters have established strong perimeter lines on this historic North Texas fire after it destroyed over a hundred structures across Palo Pinto and Jack counties. Ground crews continue mop-up and patrol operations along reinforced retardant lines.
• Plaskett Fire (California) — Crews in Monterey County are focused on suppression repair and securing control lines while evacuation warnings and a Highway 1 closure remain in place.
• Benson Fire (Texas) — The fire in Menard County is contained, allowing local officials to safely lift all evacuation recommendations for nearby residents.
• Double Barrel Fire (Texas) — U.S. Forest Service crews have fully contained the timber fire in Davy Crockett National Forest near Pennington.
• Lookout Fire (South Dakota) — Burning north of Spearfish, this human-caused grass fire is contained as crews complete mop-up along perimeter lines.

Conditions and Outlook

Red Flag Warnings remain active across Northern California and widespread sections of Wyoming due to strong wind gusts and low relative humidity. In California, warm and dry weather will persist through midweek with breezy conditions testing fire perimeters. Across the central Rockies and high plains, critical fire weather and intense winds on Monday will give way to cooler temperatures and increasing rain chances by midweek.

Burn Bans and Land Management

Emergency forest closures are in effect for parts of the Upper Lake Ranger District within the Mendocino National Forest, covering several campgrounds. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged across parts of Northern California and Wyoming under active Red Flag Warnings.

What Residents Should Do

• Heed all mandatory evacuation orders and highway closures immediately, especially along State Route 20 and Highway 1 in California.
• Avoid all outdoor burning and activities that could generate sparks during gusty Red Flag conditions.
• Monitor local emergency management alerts and keep emergency go-bags ready if living near active wildfire perimeters.