UPDATE, July 29th, 8:16 a.m. — As of this morning, the Smith Fire is 100% contained and the Mill Fire is 98% contained. Mop-up is continuing to take place around the Mill Fire perimeter, and firefighting equipment and debris is being removed.

UPDATE, July 26th, 3:08 p.m. — All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted except for in zone PLU-113, which remains under a Level 3 Evacuation Order.

UPDATE, July 26th, 12:14 p.m. — The Mill Fire is now at 10% containment. All evacuation zones which implemented Level 3 Evacuation Orders have been downgraded to Level 2 “Set” warnings, except for PLU-113 (which encompasses the fire). Infrared mapping this morning showed reduced heat, with lingering hot spots northeast of Whitehawk that are being targeted today. According to the Forest Service, winds are expected to increase into the afternoon, but not to critical levels.

UPDATE, July 24th, 10:14 a.m. — Helicopters were utilized overnight to cool spot fires. Although the fire remains uncontained, the Plumas National Forest reports that much of the fire has breaks around it. Those breaks still need improvement, and high winds may test them today. Engines are positioned around buildings in Gold Mountain and Portola as a precaution. The Plumas Forest also reports a “considerable influx of resources” having arrived in the morning. The Mill fire is now mapped at 2,802 acres, and the Smith fire 56 acres.

UPDATE, July 23rd, 1:59 p.m. — Portola residents south of the Gulling Street Bridge have been ordered to evacuate, and should travel north over the Gulling Street Bridge. Level 3 “Go” evacuation zones now extend to Beckwourth Calpine Road south of Highway 70.

UPDATE, July 23rd, 12:02 p.m. — The Plumas National Forest reported making good progress overnight on establishing the fireline. Forecast hot and breezy weather may hamper containment efforts. According to Watch Duty Staff Reporter Cole Euken, ten air tankers were involved in an air attack on the fire Tuesday Morning.

WHITEHAWK — On the afternoon of Monday, July 22nd, lightning strikes started the Mill and Smith fires in the Plumas National Forest. Though the Smith Fire remained at around 50 acres, high winds and dry fuels caused the Mill Fire to expand to 1,637 acres by Tuesday morning. On Monday night, the fires were grouped as the Gold Complex Fire.

The communities of Valley Ranch, Gold Mountain, Iron Horse, and Delleker are all under evacuation orders, while Whitehawk and Portola (on opposing ends of the Gold Complex Fire) have been under a Level 2 “Set” order since Monday at 4 p.m. SR-89 has been closed between County Road A15 (Portola McLears Road) and Calpine Road. A shelter was opened for evacuees at Quincy High School, and an animal shelter was set up at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds.

Meteorologist Kris Kuyper, @Weather1224 on X, found this video taken by PG&E of the lightning storm that caused the fires, and the subsequent ignitions.

Smoke has drifted southwest from the fire and is heavily affecting Downieville, with air pollution rising to a level where, according to PurpleAir, “The risk of health effects is increased for everyone with 24 hours of exposure.” The PurpleAir map is available here.

The Sierra County deputies and probation officers are assisting with evacuations in Plumas County, and the Sheriff’s Office is continuing to monitor the situation. The fire appears to be expanding to the northeast, towards Portola, and not into Sierra County. Sheriff Mike Fisher is now driving a ”fire loop” to determine current boundaries and potential spread.

Updates on fire spread and evacuation zones are available from Watch Duty, which is a 501(c)(3) organization, and on the Genasys map. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office also suggests signing up for the Everbridge Emergency Alert Program. We will continue to update this article as information becomes available.