California’s Lucas Fire near Mendocino National Forest grows to 3,476 acres; evacuations remain

The Lucas Fire burning near the Mendocino-Lake County line grew to 3,476 acres Friday afternoon as evacuation orders remained in place.

As of about 2:20 p.m., the fire was 5% contained, according to Cal Fire. The wildfire started Thursday near Potter Valley.

Cal Fire said temperatures and winds were expected to increase Friday as humidity dropped, while additional resources continued arriving at the fire.

“Today temperatures and winds are expected to increase along with lowering humidity. Additional resources will be arriving to assist with this incident,” Cal Fire officials said in an update Friday morning. “All evacuations remain in place.”

A Red Flag Warning will also be in effect for Lake County and other parts of Northern California from 11 a.m. Saturday through 11 a.m. Monday due to gusty winds and low humidity.

Evacuation orders are in effect for the following Lake County zones:

Evacuations were ordered for the following zones:
• MNF-E016
• MNF-E018
• MNF-E019
• UPP-E023
• UPP-E025
• UPP-E026
• UPP-E027
• UPP-E030

Meanwhile, evacuation warnings were issued for the following zones:
Lake County
• MNF-E012
• MNF-E013
• MNF-E015
• MNF-E017
• MNF-E021
• UPP-E028
• UPP-E031
• UPP-E032
• UPP-E035
• UPP-E038 

Mendocino County
• MEN-2POT08-A
• MEN-2UKV28

A temporary evacuation point and animal evacuation shelter have been established at the Lake County Fairgrounds’ Baldwin Pavilion in Lakeport.

U.S. Forest Service officials issued an emergency closure for a portion of the Upper Lake Ranger District in the Mendocino National Forest.

“Area closure impacts include all National Forest system roads, trails, and campgrounds beginning at the forest boundary where it intersects Forest Road 16N30 along Sam Alley Ridge. The closure area continues east to the intersection with 16N30 and 16N01, then north along the 16N01 and north along the M1 (Elk Mountain Rd.) until it intersects with 17N99 Rd. (McCreary Glade). The closure area continues west along 17N99 Rd until the forest boundary,” forest officials said.

Highway 20 is also closed at Bachelor Valley Road, Witter Springs Road and Saratoga Springs Road.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.