Nearly 900 evacuated as cause remains under investigation
The Lucas fire, which began Thursday, had burned more than 4,120 acres across Lake and Mendocino counties by Monday morning, with Cal Fire reporting 30% containment as of that morning. Fire officials were still investigating the cause of the blaze.
Ryan Isham, Cal Fire’s operations section chief, addressed roughly 100 community members gathered in Upper Lake on Sunday. “We do feel like today was a big turning point for us,” Isham said. He cautioned that firefighters would remain deployed for several more days, working to reduce remaining risk in the burn area. “We are still going to be on the fire for several days to come, continuing to reduce the risk,” he added.
Officials imposed evacuation orders that sent nearly 900 people away from the area. No deaths or missing-persons reports have been issued in connection with the fire, according to authorities. Lake County Sheriff Luke Bingham said a man was arrested for attempting to jump a roadblock.
The fire would continue to produce significant smoke in the area as firefighters worked to hold it back on Elk Mountain, which Isham said caught flame more recently. Cal Fire, working jointly with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, had deployed 163 engines, 72 crews, dozens of water tenders, and eight helicopters to halt the blaze.
The Mendocino National Forest ordered an emergency closure of portions of its grounds and campsites last week due to the fire.