Lightning storms, hot weather cause 26 fires in Butte County. Evacuation orders issued

Cal Fire is fighting more than two dozen fires that have burned about 1,000 acres across Butte County as record temperatures, roaming lightning storms and hot winds created difficult fire weather Monday.

At least 26 fires were burning in Butte County as a result of lightning strikes, and the largest fire near Potter’s Ravine Drive north of Oroville had spread to about 800 acres as of 7 p.m. Monday.

The fire prompted officials to issue an evacuation warning for the area of Potters Ravine from Oregon Gulch Road between Lake Oroville and Oregon City Trail, Cal Fire Butte Unit said in a social media post. That warning was later upgraded to an order, along with an evacuation order for residents north of Orange Avenue and Long Bar Road to Feather River, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

At 8 p.m., an evacuation warning was issued from Glen Drive to Highway 162, from Highway 162 to Canyon Drive and from Canyon Drive north to Oroville Dam, sheriff’s officials said.

A second large fire is burning on Doe Mill Ridge north of Centerville. The fire burned at least 330 acres, according to Cal Fire. Officials said the remaining fires were all 12 acres or less.

“ALL of California is fighting for resources,” Cal Fire Butte Unit said. “Safety of our citizens is paramount, be prepared if asked to evacuate.”

Fires across northern California are taxing resources as firefighters work to contain fires in Nevada, Glenn, Napa and Stanislaus counties.

This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 3:22 PM.