Firefighters respond to fires sparked by lightning in eastern Sacramento County

Multiple wildfires ignited Tuesday morning in eastern Sacramento County, likely sparked by lightning, according to authorities.

The largest, known as the Brown Fire, was reported around 7:30 a.m. near the 8900 block of Ione Road, about a mile west of Eagle’s Nest Airport and close to the Amador County line. Incident commanders described the fire as spreading west at a critical rate. Flames were active along Ione Road, where fire crews established structure protection.

By 9:45 a.m., the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District reported that forward progress had been stopped after the blaze burned through 60 acres of dry brush.

The Brown Fire was one of several that ignited during unstable weather that moved across the eastern Sacramento Valley early Tuesday. Lightning and scattered precipitation were reported before 7 a.m., part of a weak system moving north from the San Joaquin Valley.

Lightning strikes dot eastern Valley

That system brought thundershowers and lightning strikes that ignited several fires across the region, said Dakari Anderson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. The strikes were among 188 recorded across Northern California early Tuesday, he said. Showers continued east into the Sierra Nevada as the system exited the Sacramento Valley.

Authorities closed several roads in the area, including Jackson Road (Highway 16) at Ione Road and Ione Road from Highway 16 to Meiss Road. The Brown Fire was burning about 25 miles southeast of downtown Sacramento, 17 miles south of Folsom and 18 miles east of Elk Grove.

Sacramento Metro Fire spokesperson Capt. Mark Nunez said crews responded to multiple fires following more than 59 lightning strikes in the area after 7 a.m. A total of five fires were reported before 8 a.m., he said.

Roughly 10 miles west of the Brown Fire, the Rock Fire was reported minutes later in the 4400 block of Scott Road, north of Highway 16. That blaze had burned 52 acres and was 18% contained by 1 p.m., Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado unit said.

Earlier Tuesday, the Copper Fire ignited along Highway 16 in Amador County. Firefighters stopped its forward progress at 11 acres.

Cal Fire AEU said it “and partner agencies are responding to multiple incidents in Amador, El Dorado and Sacramento counties. Be aware of emergency vehicles and damp road conditions this morning.”

A commander on scene told dispatchers that lightning may have struck a power pole, sparking the Brown Fire, though the cause remains under investigation.

More blazes pop up in the Central Valley

Farther south, the same storm system sparked additional fires before reaching the capital region.

The 2-2 Fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. near the Woodward Reservoir along the Calaveras-Stanislaus county line. By 1 p.m., it had grown to 1,400 acres, spreading at a moderate to dangerous rate through dry grasses. Authorities issued an evacuation warnings for areas north of Highway 4 in the Telegraph area.

Cal Fire’s Tuolumne-Calaveras unit said its dispatchers “continue to receive reports of new fires” Tuesday afternoon.

“We encourage community members to remain alert to conditions and stay prepared to evacuate if ordered,” they said.

Another blaze, the 18-1 Fire, ignited on the Merced-Mariposa county line east of Le Grand. Firefighters estimated the fire at a minimum of 250 acres by midmorning.

In anticipation of dangerous fire weather — high temperatures, low humidity and dry lightning — the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services said Monday it had deployed 23 fire engines and other equipment and personnel to El Dorado, Nevada, Plumas, Sierra, and Trinity counties.

Other wildfires near the capital region

As of Tuesday morning, the Valley Fire in El Dorado County was 66% contained, and all evacuation orders had been lifted, Cal Fire said. The cause of the fire that sparked north of El Dorado Hills on Monday afternoon was still under investigation.

Farther east in El Dorado County, the Coyote Fire near Fair Play, which sparked Aug. 20, remained at 624 acres with 95% containment.

In Napa County, the Pickett Fire had burned 6,819 acres since Aug. 21, and was 90% contained, Cal Fire said.

The Bee’s Daniel Hunt contributed to this story.

This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 8:25 AM.