A wind-driven wildfire in Lake and Mendocino counties has quickly reached 1,099 acres as of press time Friday morning, according to Cal Fire officials.
The Lucas Fire, which was 5% contained, rapidly spread near the Lake County and Mendocino county line, Potter Valley, according to Cal Fire incident reports.
The fire began Thursday morning shortly after 9 a.m. in areas stocked with dry grass and oak, and it quickly grew in the afternoon after jumping containment lines firefighters established that morning.
Driven by wind, the wildfire grew from 10 acres to 400 acres by 4 p.m., and then to 1,099 by 8 p.m., according to Cal Fire incident reports.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Cal Fire confirmed lightning was recorded in the area Thursday morning.
Emergency Operations Center activates temporary evacuation point at Fairgrounds
A temporary evacuation point was established at the Lake County Fairgrounds located at Baldwin Pavilion at 401 Martin St., where there’s also an evacuation center for animals.
Lake County agencies and response partners were actively coordinating to monitor changing conditions, support the response, and address impacts to affected communities Friday.
Officials noted residents in and around the affected area should remain aware of changing conditions and be prepared to take action if directed by public safety officials.
Evacuation information will continued be distributed through official Lake County emergency notification channels and Genasys Protect. Residents are encouraged to Know Your Zone and monitor official sources for current information. KPFZ community radio 88.1 FM and KPFZ.org also provides emergency updates during emergencies.