POTTER VALLEY, Calif. — The fast-moving Lucas Fire has surged to 1,099 acres near the Mendocino-Lake county line, forcing evacuation orders in Northern California as firefighters battle difficult terrain, threatened structures and worsening fire-weather conditions.
Fast-moving wildfire explodes in Northern California as mass evacuations ordered https://t.co/4yEo0z5QL7 pic.twitter.com/BHU2uZU9IQ
— New York Post (@nypost) September 11, 2026
The blaze was just 5% contained in the latest update. Eight Lake County zones are under evacuation orders, while nine additional zones across Lake and Mendocino counties are under evacuation warnings.
The fire began Thursday, September 10, and grew from roughly 10 acres to more than 1,000 acres within hours, making its rapid expansion the biggest concern for residents around Upper Lake, Bachelor Valley, Potter Valley and the Mendocino National Forest.
Lucas Fire grows from 10 acres to more than 1,000
The Lucas Fire started at about 9:18 a.m. near Potter Valley.
By late morning, crews were responding to approximately 10 acres burning through grass and oak in a remote area. The fire had reached about 40 acres by 2:39 p.m. and jumped to roughly 400 acres by 4:06 p.m.
Later Thursday evening, mapping placed the fire at 1,099.4 acres.
The steep and difficult-to-access terrain complicated the initial response and increased the importance of aircraft as flames spread toward communities and forest land.
Eight Lake County zones ordered to evacuate
Mandatory evacuation orders cover MNF-E016, MNF-E018, MNF-E019, UPP-E023, UPP-E025, UPP-E026, UPP-E027 and UPP-E030.
Evacuation warnings remain in place for MNF-E017, MNF-E021, UPP-E028, UPP-E031, UPP-E032, UPP-E035 and UPP-E038 in Lake County.
In Mendocino County, MEN-2POT08 and MEN-2UKV28 are under warnings.
Residents under an evacuation order should leave immediately. People under warnings who need additional time to move children, pets or livestock are advised to prepare early rather than wait for conditions to worsen.
Current fire and evacuation information is available on the official CAL FIRE Lucas Fire incident page.
Structures threatened as night helicopters join response
Fire activity intensified Thursday afternoon, with structures threatened near the head of the blaze.
Firefighters moved into defensive positions while night-flying helicopters were brought into the response, allowing aerial operations to continue after dark.
No confirmed civilian deaths, firefighter deaths or structure losses were listed in the latest official incident information.
Emergency center activated as Lake County responds
Lake County activated its Emergency Operations Center as the fire affected areas around the Mendocino National Forest and Bachelor Valley near Upper Lake.
A temporary evacuation point has been opened at the Lake County Fairgrounds, Baldwin Pavilion, 401 Martin Street in Lakeport.
The site is also accepting livestock evacuations, an important resource for rural households and ranchers in the affected area.
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PG&E shuts off power along Elk Mountain Road
The wildfire has also affected local infrastructure.
PG&E shut off electricity along Elk Mountain Road between White Rock Road and Middle Creek Thursday evening as fire activity increased and crews worked to protect nearby structures.
Hotter, drier weather could make containment harder
Firefighters are facing another challenge Friday as temperatures and winds are expected to increase while humidity drops.
That combination can accelerate fire behavior, dry vegetation further and make containment lines more difficult to hold.
California has already seen other fast-moving fire emergencies this season. The Getty Fire evacuation warnings near the 405 Freeway showed how quickly wildfire conditions can affect homes, roads and evacuation planning.
More than 55,000 acres burning in Monterey County
The Lucas Fire is unfolding while crews are still managing major wildfires farther south.
The Timber and Plaskett fires in Monterey County have together burned more than 55,000 acres, affecting the Big Sur area and contributing to closures along portions of Highway 1.
Other weather-related emergencies have also hit California communities recently, including dangerous coastal impacts linked to former Hurricane Marie.
Multiple active incidents can increase demand for aircraft, firefighters and other emergency resources during California’s peak wildfire season.
Cause of Lucas Fire remains under investigation
Officials have not announced what started the Lucas Fire, and the cause remains under investigation.
For residents near Upper Lake, Potter Valley, Bachelor Valley and surrounding communities, the most important information remains evacuation alerts and changing fire behavior.
With 1,099 acres burned and containment at only 5%, conditions could shift quickly if winds strengthen or the fire makes another run.
This is a developing story. Acreage, containment, evacuation zones and road conditions may change as new mapping and field assessments are completed.
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