Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 1:29
The Lassen County Sheriff's Office has issued an evacuation order and multiple evacuation warnings for new fires burning in the Little Valley area, according to a report from Action News Now. The situation is developing rapidly as firefighters work to contain the blaze.
The evacuation order applies to Zone 141-A, with additional warnings for Zone 141-B (Little Valley), Zone 143, Zone 145, Zone 153, and Zone 157. Sheriff Speckman provided updates via Facebook, noting that while rain is expected, it may not be enough to fully suppress the fire. Residents are urged to monitor local alerts and have a go-bag ready. The public is asked to avoid the area while fire crews respond.
Emergency responders are battling a rapidly expanding vegetation fire, dubbed the 3-1 Fire, which was first reported at 1:45 p.m. on July 7, 2026. The blaze ignited approximately 1.7 miles southwest of Fourth Butte and west of Little Valley Road. By 2:09 p.m., crews encountered two separate fires burning at a moderate rate of spread, covering five and 10 acres, respectively. The two blazes merged within 20 minutes, expanding to 30 acres by 2:27 p.m. As the fire grew to 50 acres by 2:38 p.m., officials significantly ramped up resource requests, including additional engines, crews, water tenders, dozers, and air tankers. The situation escalated quickly through the afternoon. By 2:54 p.m., authorities requested the closure of Little Valley Road from 5th Bell Highway to Little Valley as the fire reached 75 acres and crossed the roadway. Evacuation warnings were issued for zones LAS-137 and LAS-139 at 3:21 p.m., followed by warnings for zone LAS-127B at 3:45 p.m. and zone LAS-141 at 3:59 p.m. The fire experienced a massive surge in activity, reaching 570 acres by 4:29 p.m. due to short-range spotting. FIRIS OES Intel 12 mapped the blaze at 572 acres shortly thereafter. As of 6:31 p.m. Tuesday, the fire was officially mapped at 713 acres with 5 percent containment. CAL FIRE issued an update Tuesday night: Firefighters continue to make strong progress on the 3-1 Fire. Fire retardant has been placed around the majority of the fire, helping support containment efforts and providing firefighters with additional opportunities to strengthen control lines. Effective at 8:00 PM June 7, the evacuation order for Little Valley has been lifted. Residents may return home; however, please remain alert and continue to use caution in the area as firefighting operations remain active. As of 3:35 a.m. Wednesday morning, the fire is mapped at 800 acres remaining at 5 percent containment. The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office has requested that the public avoid the Little Valley Road area to allow fire personnel and emergency vehicles clear access. Residents seeking evacuation shelter information are advised to call (530) 254-4500.
As of July 10, 2026, the 3-1 Pit Fire near Little Valley is up to 40 percent contained and holding at just over a thousand acres. Containment later grew to 65 percent, according to reports.
By July 12, 2026, the 3-1 Pit Fire reached 75% containment. Crews made significant progress, conducting extensive mop-up operations to extinguish remaining hot spots and further secure the fire perimeter. With suppression efforts continuing to be successful, firefighters have also begun suppression repair to restore areas impacted by firefighting activities. Weather forecasts for the following day indicated breezy southwest to west winds, along with a chance of rain and thunderstorms developing after 1:00 p.m. Relative humidity was expected to increase into the mid-60% range, helping to moderate fire behavior and support suppression efforts by adding moisture to the fire area. All evacuations had been lifted as of July 10, 2026.
Containment on the 3-1 Pit Fire burning in Lassen County has increased to 90 percent, nearing full containment.
On July 16, 2026, a new vegetation fire, designated the 3-6 Fire, was reported in the Little Valley area. Initially estimated at 100 acres, aircraft observed a moderate rate of spread with short-range spotting. Ground resources, including crews reassigned from other fires in the area, were dispatched to assist. By July 17, the fire had grown to 184 acres with 10% containment. Firefighters made significant progress overnight, completing a hose lay around the entire perimeter, improving access to water and strengthening containment. An Evacuation Warning remains in effect for zone LAS-147. Residents are advised to visit Genasys Protect or use the Genasys Protect app for the latest evacuation zone updates.
Lassen County, located in northeastern California, is prone to wildfires during the dry summer months. The Little Valley area is a rural region with scattered homes and dense vegetation, making it particularly vulnerable. The sheriff's office is coordinating with Cal Fire and other agencies to protect life and property.
In a separate incident, evacuation warnings were issued Wednesday morning for the Mile Post 16 Fire in the Hoopa Valley Reservation, which has burned about 50 acres in steep terrain. The Hoopa Fire Department reported two separate vegetation fires around 1:30 a.m. near Mile Post 16 on Highway 96 that later merged. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation warnings for zones HIA-E002 and HIA-E003, including parts of Oil Springs Road, Pine Creek Road, Carpenter Lane, Bloody Camp Road, French Camp Road and the Bigfoot Scenic Byway. The Hoopa Valley Airport was closed to the public for use as an air operations base, and Route 96 remained fully closed from Carpenter Lane to north of Sidehill Viaduct (post mile 14.85 - 19) with no estimated time of reopening. The cause remains under investigation.
California has experienced increasingly severe wildfire seasons, with Lassen County seeing significant fires in recent years. The 2021 Dixie Fire, which burned over 960,000 acres, originated in nearby Plumas County and impacted parts of Lassen. This history underscores the importance of early evacuation orders.
Residents should stay informed through official channels and comply with all evacuation orders. The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected from the Lassen County Sheriff's Office.
