Evacuations underway as 4 lightning-sparked fires burn in Plumas County

PLUMAS COUNTY – Evacuation orders and warnings are in place Monday evening as crews battle four lightning-sparked fires in the Plumas National Forest on Monday.

Three of the first are near Whitehawk Ranch, with the Mill Fire being the largest. The Smith Fire is burning north of Highway 70.

The Mill Fire has burned 500 acres and the Mill 2 and 3 fires are about 74 acres, the Plumas National Forest said. The Smith Fire is about 50 acres.

Crews said they are growing at a rapid rate due to winds, slope and dry fuels.

Officials are calling the four fires the Gold Complex.

All four fires are threatening structures, forcing people to evacuate from the communities of Whitehawk Ranch, Clio, Gold Mountain, Delleker, Lake Davis and the south and west sides of Portola.

Evacuation orders are in place for PLU-074, PLU-093, PLU-096, PLU-095, PLU-096, PLU-097, PLU-098, PLU-111, PLU-113 and POR-007.

An evacuation warning was issued for PLU-076, PLU-094, PLU-099, PLU-100, PLU-112, POR-001, POR-006 and POR-004.

Residents are urged to evacuate west to Quincy High School, where a shelter is open. Animals are being evacuated to the fairgrounds.

All evacuations in Plumas County can also be found on ZoneHaven .

The fires are burning near neighboring Sierra County. As of 8:30 p.m., no evacuations are in place in Sierra County and the sheriff's office said it's communicating with Plumas County officials.

Lightning activity

CBS13 Chief Meterololigst Nic Merianos caught a lightning strike followed by a smoke plume on radar at about 2:30 p.m. Merianos said the storm produced up to 2.5 inches of rain just east of Whitehawk and triggered a Flash Flood Warning through 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Road closures

Caltrans has closed Highway 89 at Calpine Road.

County Road A15 is closed at Ponderosa Circle and Highway 89.

Delleker Road is closed north from Highway 70.