California Fires

Evacuations Ordered for Lucas Fire as Weekend Fire Weather Looms

Mandatory evacuations are in place across portions of Lake County following the rapid growth of the Lucas Fire near Potter Valley. Firefighters continue to battle larger, persistent blazes along the Big Sur coast while successfully halting progress on several recent brush fires in Southern and Central California. Critical fire weather is forecast to expand over the weekend as gusty winds and dry air arrive across Northern California and the Sierra Nevada.

Key Fires

• Lucas Fire — Burning near the Lake and Mendocino county line southeast of Potter Valley, the fire prompted mandatory evacuation orders in Lake County and evacuation warnings in both counties. An evacuation shelter is open at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport as smoke spreads into neighboring foothill communities.
• Timber Fire — Crews continue structural defense in steep, rugged terrain in the Los Padres National Forest where hundreds of homes remain threatened. Hot and dry weather continues to trigger interior burning and smoke production along the northern perimeter.
• Plaskett Fire — Firefighters are mopping up and securing perimeter lines along the coastal ridge in southern Monterey County. Highway 1 remains closed from Pacific Valley south to the San Luis Obispo County line.
• Steele Fire — Crews halted forward progress along Steele Canyon Road near Lake Berryessa, allowing all local evacuation warnings to be lifted. Firefighters remain on scene strengthening containment lines.
• Getty Fire — Forward progress was stopped along the northbound 405 Freeway near Bel Air, and all evacuation warnings for Brentwood and Bel Air have been lifted. The Getty Center temporarily closed to facilitate firefighting operations, with no structural damage reported.

Conditions and Outlook

Fire Weather Watches take effect Saturday through Monday across the Sacramento Valley, northern foothills, Lake County, and the eastern Sierra due to gusty winds and low humidity. Near active fire grounds in Lake and Monterey counties, conditions will turn increasingly gusty and dry through the weekend despite a modest cooling trend. Excessive heat across Southern California will ease after tonight as breezy, dry conditions become more widespread.

Burn Bans and Land Management

Spare the Air alerts in the Bay Area led authorities to cancel scheduled prescribed burns on Angel Island following heavy smoke impacts in the East Bay. Regional utilities have also issued warnings of potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs across parts of the Sacramento Valley and the Sierra Nevada corridor over the weekend.

What Residents Should Do

• Heed all mandatory evacuation orders and warnings immediately if residing in Lake or Mendocino County fire zones.
• Prepare for potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs and secure outdoor items ahead of gusty weekend winds.
• Never fly unauthorized drones near wildland areas, as airspace intrusions immediately ground aerial firefighting operations.