Lucas Fire Reaches 35% Containment; Two Lake County Evacuation Orders Remain

Tuesday update: Containment rises while crews prepare for stronger winds

CAL FIRE's 9:44 a.m. incident update lists the fire at 4,128 acres and 35% containment. The acreage is unchanged from Monday morning, while containment increased from 30% to 35%.

Firefighters reported that the fire remained within established control lines overnight and continued strengthening them. Tuesday's work includes mop-up, fire-suppression repair and removing dense fuels along Elk Mountain Road that continue to hold heat and create a rollout hazard.

The agency expects hot, dry, windy and unstable conditions, with stronger northwest winds later Tuesday afternoon. That forecast could increase interior fire activity, so the containment gain should not be interpreted as an all-clear or a reason to disregard an evacuation order.

Two Lake County zones remain under evacuation orders

CAL FIRE's current list shows evacuation orders only for Lake County zones MNF-E018 and UPP-E023-B. The agency split the former UPP-E023 zone, keeping the northern half under an order while reducing the southern half, UPP-E023-A, to a warning.

Lake County zones UPP-E030, UPP-E027, UPP-E025, MNF-E016 and MNF-E019 were reduced from orders to warnings. CAL FIRE also lists Mendocino County zone MEN-2POT08-B under a warning.

Evacuation status was cleared for Lake County zones MNF-E012, MNF-E013, MNF-E015, MNF-E017, MNF-E021, UPP-E028B, UPP-E038, UPP-E032, UPP-E035 and UPP-E026. CAL FIRE told returning residents to remain ready to evacuate again if conditions change.

An evacuation warning is not an order, but CAL FIRE says people who need extra time and those moving pets or livestock should leave during the warning stage. Because zones can change quickly, residents should use the live CAL FIRE map and county emergency alerts rather than relying on a saved screenshot or social-media repost.

Lake County Fairgrounds evacuation point is closed

CAL FIRE says the temporary evacuation point and livestock evacuation operation at the Lake County Fairgrounds closed at 3 p.m. Monday, September 14. Earlier information describing Fritch Hall as an operating daytime evacuation point is no longer current.

Residents affected by the fire who still need assistance should call 2-1-1 for information about available resources, according to the agency. People should confirm the current location and hours of any shelter or animal facility before traveling.

People leaving should take medications, identification, essential documents, water, chargers and animal supplies if they can do so without delaying evacuation. No one should enter a closed zone to retrieve belongings after leaving.

CAL FIRE said the road-closure points at Highway 20 and Saratoga Springs Road and at Highway 20 and Witter Springs Road were lifted late Sunday morning. Road access and traffic-control points can change with fire behavior, so drivers should continue following law-enforcement instructions and leave room for engines, crews and animal-transport vehicles.

More than 2,600 personnel work Monday's containment plan

CAL FIRE increased the official containment estimate from 25% Sunday evening to 30% Monday morning while increasing the mapped acreage from 4,109 to 4,128. The agency did not say whether the 19-acre change reflected new fire growth, improved mapping or both.

Monday's operational priorities include validating primary control lines already in place, finishing contingency lines and mopping up hotspots deeper inside the perimeter, particularly on the eastern side. CAL FIRE also expects fire-suppression repair work to begin.

The agency says the Lake County red flag warning ended at 2 a.m. Sunday and crews are taking advantage of improved conditions. An expired warning does not eliminate fire danger or cancel evacuation instructions.

CAL FIRE lists 2,609 personnel, 10 helicopters, 303 engines, 79 dozers, 56 water tenders and 78 crews assigned Monday morning. Resource counts can change as incident managers adjust staffing and equipment.

The U.S. Forest Service issued an emergency partial closure in the Upper Lake Ranger District of Mendocino National Forest. Regional reports identified affected recreation sites including Middle Creek, Penny Pines and Deer Valley. Visitors should confirm current forest and road closures before traveling.

What is confirmed—and what remains unknown

Confirmed: CAL FIRE lists the Lucas Fire at 4,128 acres and 35% containment. Its 2:10 p.m. Monday update reduced five zones to warnings, cleared ten zones and split UPP-E023; MNF-E018 and UPP-E023-B remain the only zones on the current evacuation-order list. The Lake County Fairgrounds temporary evacuation point closed Monday afternoon.

Not established in the reviewed material: the fire's ignition source, a final damage total, when every evacuation will be lifted or when full containment will be reached. CAL FIRE's incident fields did not list a confirmed civilian or firefighter injury or a structure-loss count at publication time; blank fields should not be treated as a permanent zero while assessment continues.

Smoke may degrade air quality beyond the immediate fire area. People with heart or lung conditions, older adults, children and pregnant people should pay particular attention to official air-quality guidance and reduce exposure when smoke levels rise.

About the image

The featured image is an authentic August 2018 U.S. Forest Service photograph by Cecilio Ricardo showing fire burning in Mendocino National Forest. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the photograph is presented as public domain through Wikimedia Commons.

The historical file photograph provides geographic wildfire context only. It does not depict the 2026 Lucas Fire, Tuesday's operations, current evacuation zones, threatened structures or any reported damage, and its use does not imply endorsement by the Forest Service, the photographer or Wikimedia Commons.