Firefighters across northeastern California responded to several new wildfire starts over the weekend as hot, dry conditions and gusty winds fueled rapid fire growth across the region.
The largest of the new incidents is the Elephant Fire, burning in Sierra County east of Loyalton. The fire ignited Saturday afternoon in the Tahoe National Forest and has spread rapidly through timber, brush and grass. As of Monday morning, CAL FIRE reported the fire had burned 4,484 acres and remained 0% contained.
Evacuation warnings have now been issued for portions of Plumas County due to the Elephant Fire. The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office issued warnings for evacuation zones PLU-104-A and PLU-114, covering the area south of Chilcoot to the Sierra County line and east of Vinton to the Lassen County line.
In Lassen County, evacuation zone LAS-451-A has been upgraded to an evacuation order due to the Elephant Fire, according to the Genasys Protect evacuation map.
Officials say there is a potential threat to life and property and residents in the warning area should be prepared to leave immediately if conditions worsen. Residents who may need additional time to evacuate, including older adults, people with disabilities or medical needs, families with young children, and those with pets or livestock, are encouraged to evacuate now.
Those remaining in the warning area are advised to prepare emergency supplies, gather important documents and medications, fuel vehicles, and monitor official updates for possible evacuation orders.
Fire suppression efforts on the Elephant Fire were briefly interrupted Sunday after an unauthorized drone entered restricted airspace over the fire, forcing aerial firefighting operations to pause until officials confirmed the area was clear. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office has identified a suspected drone operator and is investigating the incident for possible criminal charges and federal aviation violations.
The fire also began impacting local infrastructure Sunday night. Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative warned that the advancing fire threatened power lines near South Scott Road, and members in the affected area could experience outages. The cooperative said power will be restored as soon as it is safe for crews to re-energize the lines.
In Lassen County, the Loomis Fire ignited Saturday near Dixie Valley. What began as a relatively small vegetation fire grew rapidly over the weekend, prompting evacuation orders and warnings. CAL FIRE’s latest report lists the fire at 400 acres with 0% containment. The cause remains under investigation.
A second Lassen County wildfire, the Lumbee Fire, also started Saturday in the Dixie Valley area. Firefighters limited the blaze to 50 acres, and it remained 0% contained in the latest CAL FIRE update. The fire’s cause is under investigation.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue making progress on the Twain Fire in Plumas County. The fire, burning north of Highway 70 near Twain, has been held to 125 acres and is now 10% contained, with no additional fire growth reported as of Sunday evening.
The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office said the fire appears to be moving north into the Kingsbury Ravine area, which previously burned during the 2021 Dixie Fire. Sheriff’s personnel remain on scene and are coordinating with the U.S. Forest Service to monitor fire activity and receive operational updates.
Officials say there is no immediate threat to the communities of Twain or Rush Creek at this time. However, a precautionary evacuation warning has been issued for Zone PLU-042 and portions of PLU-043, covering the area from the Greenville Wye west to Twain.
Residents in the warning area are encouraged to remain aware of changing conditions and monitor official emergency alerts. The Sheriff’s Office says no immediate action is required at this time, but additional notifications will be issued if conditions warrant evacuation warnings or other protective measures.
Crews continued strengthening containment lines throughout the day and planned to remain on the fire overnight. Controlled traffic remains in place on Highway 70, and officials warn smoke may be heavy in the area. Travelers are encouraged to use caution and avoid the area if possible.
The string of new fire starts comes as Northern California enters the heart of wildfire season. Fire officials continue to urge residents to avoid activities that could spark a wildfire, remain aware of local fire restrictions, and heed evacuation orders and warnings. They also remind the public that flying drones near active wildfires is illegal, as unauthorized aircraft can delay firefighting efforts at the very time they are needed most.
