Three separate fires in Mendocino County have collectively scorched nearly 60,000 acres as of Saturday afternoon, prompting extensive firefighting efforts to establish containment lines.
The Lucas fire, the most recent of the trio, ignited Thursday morning near Bachelor Valley on the Mendocino-Lake County border. Driven by northwest winds, it expanded to 3,846 acres by midday Saturday, with containment reported at 15% by Cal Fire.
The largest blaze is the Plaskett fire, which commenced on August 26. By Saturday, it had consumed 29,942 acres, necessitating the closure of portions of Highway 1. Despite the challenging steep and rugged terrain hindering operational progress, firefighters have achieved 83% containment.
In proximity, the Timber fire, which began over a month ago on August 8, had reached 25,426 acres as of Saturday, with 27% containment. This fire has resulted in the closure of several state parks, including Pfeiffer Big Sur and Andrew Molera.
The Timber fire also led to the temporary closure of businesses such as the Big Sur River Inn and the well-known scenic restaurant Nepenthe, which reported significant daily revenue losses during its closure. Both establishments have since resumed operations.
Separately, Los Angeles experienced several smaller fires recently. The Getty fire, which burned 25 acres in Brentwood on Wednesday, triggered evacuations and the temporary closure of the Getty Center. The museum reopened on Friday, and the Getty fire was 90% contained by Saturday.
