A fast-moving vegetation fire southeast of Potter Valley has burned more than 1,000 acres and forced evacuation orders across Mendocino and Lake counties, with roughly 1,000 firefighters battling steep, rugged terrain that has left ground crews with extremely limited road access. The Lucas Fire, first reported around 9 a.m. Thursday near the Lake County-Mendocino County line, remains just 5% contained and continues to threaten rural communities on both sides of the county border.
According to CBS San Francisco, the fire had grown to 3,476 acres by about 2 p.m. Friday after reaching 400 acres by 4 p.m. Thursday. Evacuation orders now cover eight zones, including MNF-E016, MNF-E018, MNF-E019, and five zones around Upper Lake, while additional evacuation warnings stretch across both counties. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, per the same outlet.
Fire officials reported approximately 1,000 firefighters deployed to the steep, rugged terrain surrounding the blaze, according to KSRO, with air tankers and helicopters supporting the response amid difficult access. The station also reported a Fire Weather Watch and a Red Flag Warning for the weekend.
Spot Fires Push Into Bachelor Valley Overnight
As the fire's eastward push intensified overnight, firefighters conducted structure defense in Lake County's Bachelor Valley after a 5-to-10-acre spot fire jumped Elk Mountain Road and Middle Creek, according to Redheaded Blackbelt. Bachelor Valley is a populated agricultural area near Upper Lake, and the spotting activity marked a significant escalation in the threat to homes in the region.
Pacific Gas and Electric shut off electrical power along Elk Mountain Road from White Rock Road to Middle Creek on Thursday, as reported by YubaNet.
Lucas Fire Burns in Rural Terrain
The Lucas Fire is burning near Potter Valley and Bachelor Valley, where crews are working through rugged terrain.
A Friday LakeCoNews post referenced the Lake County Sheriff's Office in connection with the evacuations. A temporary evacuation point and an animal evacuation shelter have both been established at the Lake County Fairgrounds Baldwin Pavilion in Lakeport, per CBS San Francisco.
Unified Command Across the County Line
The Lucas Fire is being led by CAL FIRE's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit. The blaze is one of several active late-season fires straining regional resources; near Lake Berryessa in Napa County, the Steele Fire reached 30% containment after burning 50 acres, according to SFist.
The fire zone sits near the Mendocino National Forest. The Lucas Fire has forced evacuations in Mendocino and Lake counties. Fire officials have not indicated when the Lucas Fire is expected to reach higher containment as crews continue working through the rugged terrain surrounding Potter Valley and Bachelor Valley.
