Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 11:08
A flare-up of the Chute Fire in rural Yuba County prompted a new evacuation order early Monday morning, according to Cal Fire and local emergency officials. The wildfire, which ignited on July 13, continues to threaten remote areas south of Bullards Bar Reservoir. The overnight flare-up reignited the fire, and crews are battling it again.
Yuba County emergency officials ordered residents in Zone YUB-E098 to leave immediately due to renewed fire activity. The zone is located south of Bullards Bar. In addition, residents in zones DOB-E011, DOB-E101, YUB-E095, and YUB-E100 remain under evacuation warnings and should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice. The Yuba County Office of Emergency Services confirmed that Cal Fire aircraft have been called in to support ground crews battling the fire. Cal Fire urges people to follow the latest information from law enforcement, as conditions can change rapidly.
As of Monday, the Chute Fire has burned about 35 acres, Cal Fire reported, with 0% containment. The fire is burning in a remote area near Chute Ravine, close to the community of Dobbins. Firefighters are working to contain the blaze, with aerial resources providing critical support in the rugged terrain. The fire was first reported on July 13, and crews have been working to keep it from spreading further. More than 300 personnel are on the ground fighting the fire, with at least four aircraft deployed. Cal Fire is conducting 100% mop-up operations, using crews to grid the landscape for hotspots and drones with infrared technology to create heat maps. The remote, hard-to-access area is complicating efforts; the fire is burning in a Yuba River drainage area that forms a bowl, creating unpredictable wind patterns. "That's what we saw today. Mother Nature is pretty cumbersome to us, especially with the steep terrain, the rocky terrain, along with the eddy winds. It's hard to predict, even with all of our spot weather forecasts. It does change hour to hour and minute to minute, but it's unpredictable. We face that every summer and we do our best," said Nolan Hale, assistant chief with Cal Fire's Nevada Yuba Placer unit. Multiple plans are in place to tackle the fire throughout the night. Hale added that the reignition is still under investigation and that crews have been continuously monitoring the fire by both ground and air.
In a Friday evening update, Cal Fire reported that the fire had grown to 163 acres and containment had reached 50%. The fire is burning near Chute Ravine and Highway 20 in Dobbins. Firefighters continue to work on containment lines.
The Chute Fire is burning in Yuba County, a rural area in Northern California known for its forested hills and the Bullards Bar Reservoir, a popular recreation spot. Dobbins, a small unincorporated community, is near the fire zone. Wildfires are a recurring threat in this region, especially during the dry summer months. Yuba County residents are urged to stay informed through official channels and have evacuation plans ready.
The Chute Fire began on July 13 in a remote area near Chute Ravine. While initial containment efforts appeared promising, a flare-up on Monday morning led to renewed evacuation orders. The cause of the reignition is under investigation. Wildfires in Northern California have increased in frequency and intensity in recent years, driven by drought and dry vegetation. Local emergency services remain on high alert.
Evacuations are in effect for Zone YUB-E098, and residents in nearby zones should remain prepared. With aerial resources deployed, fire crews are working to contain the blaze, which as of Friday had burned 163 acres and was 50% contained. Residents should monitor Yuba County emergency alerts and follow all evacuation instructions to ensure safety. "Listen to the warnings as they come out from your local sheriff's office and know that Cal Fire is deploying every asset we have to contain this fire in a small footprint," said Hale.
