California’s Lucas Fire near Mendocino National Forest grows past 1,000 acres, prompts evacuations

By Tim Fang

A vegetation fire that broke out in Mendocino County on Thursday has burned more than 1,000 acres and has prompted evacuations, officials said.

According to Cal Fire, the Lucas Fire was first reported around 9 a.m. southeast of the community of Potter Valley, near the Lake County-Mendocino County line. The fire grew to 400 acres by 4 p.m., which led to evacuation orders and warnings.

As of about 12 p.m. Friday, the fire burned 1,099 acres and is 5% contained.

“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.”

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-E017
• MNF-E021
• UPP-E028
• UPP-E031
• UPP-E032
• UPP-E035
• UPP-E038

Mendocino County
• MEN-2POT08
• MEN-2UKV28
• MNF-E012
• MNF-E013
• MNF-E015

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

The cause of the fire is under investigation.