Lucas Fire burning in NorCal prompts evacuations, air quality concerns, CAL FIRE says
A wildfire grew to 4,008 acres near the rural Mendocino County community of Potter Valley and the Lake County line, CAL FIRE said Saturday.
The video in the player above is from a previous update.
San Francisco firefighters were dispatched to help battle the Lucas Fire, which was 15% contained Saturday afternoon. A Red Flag Warning was in effect through Monday afternoon due to strong winds and elevated fire weather conditions.
The fire broke out Thursday morning just after 9 a.m. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued by Mendocino County and Lake County.
About 1,000 personnel were assigned to the fire and numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state were flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow, CAL FIRE said.
Forest officials issued a partial closure of Mendocino National Forest in the Upper Lake Ranger District on Friday due to the fire. Campgrounds within the closure area include Middle Creek, Penny Pines, and Deer Valley.
State Highway 20 was closed at Bachelor Valley Road, Witter Springs Road and Saratoga Springs Road, CAL FIRE said.
CAL FIRE warned that smoke from the fire could impact air quality in the area, which can be tracked here.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Potter Valley is about 18 miles north-northeast of Ukiah.
A full list of evacuations can be found here.
ABC7 Eyewitness News contributed to this report.
