Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 1:30
The Mooney Fire ignited around 1:25 p.m. on July 22, 2026, near the communities of Smartsville and Mooney Flat in Yuba County, with initial reports indicating a dangerous rate of spread. Within hours, the fire grew from 0.5 acres to 25 acres, prompting immediate evacuation orders and warnings for residents in both Nevada and Yuba counties. Fire officials quickly mobilized air resources, including retardant drops, and ground crews to halt the fire's advance.
At 2:01 p.m. on July 22, CAL FIRE NEU firefighters were responding to the incident off Mooney Flat Road and Highway 20 in Penn Valley, Nevada County, reporting that structures were threatened and additional resources had been requested. The fire was already estimated at 25 acres with a dangerous rate of spread, and air resources were over the fire making retardant drops.
The fire was first reported at 12:24 p.m. on Kirk Way and Lombardi off Highway 20 in Big Oak Valley, initially at 1 acre with spotting in front of structures, triggering a full wildland response. By 2:09 p.m., large tankers were extending retardant lines in the Wild Turkey area, and firefighters utilized dozer lines from a previous fire (Kearney) to help contain the blaze. Forward progress was stopped at 4:31 p.m., and by 5:23 p.m., the incident commander reported some smoke from the interior but well within containment lines. By 2:45 p.m., fire activity had greatly moderated, and by 3:19 p.m., Air Attack reported the fire was looking good, releasing Tanker 89 and Helicopter 514. The fire was 25% contained by 3:45 p.m. By 6:38 a.m. on July 23, firefighters had increased containment to 65%. By the evening of July 23, the fire was 95% contained, and mop-up operations continued through the night to reinforce containment lines.
An evacuation order was issued for Zone NCO-E010 around 1:30 p.m., with warnings for zones NCO-E011, NCO-E012, NCO-E017, and NCO-E150. Residents were advised to stay alert as multiple spot fires were observed around the perimeter. Yuba County officials also issued evacuation warnings for zones YUB-E063 and YUB-E045 in the Smartsville area, but those were lifted shortly before 4 p.m. Affected areas included Highway 20 northeast of Smartsville, along with Mooney Flat Road, Lombardi Road and a small northern stretch of Hammonton Smartsville Road near the Smartsville Cemetery. Officials stressed that the Mooney Fire is separate from the Chute Fire burning near Dobbins. Yuba County's temporary evacuation point remains at the Penn Valley Library, 11252 Pleasant Valley Road. By 6:25 p.m., all evacuation orders and warnings were lifted, and the fire was reported 25% contained. One outbuilding was lost, but no structural damage to homes or injuries were reported. The fire caused a power outage affecting 4,125 PG&E customers, with power restored by 3:54 p.m. A Verizon tower in Penn Valley experienced network disruption due to the outage. Animal and livestock evacuation points were set up at the Nevada County Fairgrounds and the Yuba-Sutter County Fairgrounds.
The fire primarily affected rural areas near Smartsville in Yuba County and Penn Valley in Nevada County. Smartsville is in western Nevada County, roughly 50 miles northeast of Sacramento. The quick coordination between CAL FIRE NEU, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, and the Sacramento Region Incident Management Team was critical in stopping forward progress. The presence of additional resources already assigned to the nearby Chute Fire in Dobbins also supported the response. Unified command was established between CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit and the Nevada County Sheriff's Office. Firefighters utilized dozer lines from a previous fire (Kearney) to help contain the blaze. As of July 23, 2026, the Sacramento Region IMT 3 (Schwab) is in command for both the Mooney and Chute incidents.
The Mooney Fire occurred during peak wildfire season in California, when dry vegetation and hot temperatures create high fire risk. The region has experienced several wildfires in recent years, including the Chute Fire, which also threatened structures and prompted evacuations. CAL FIRE has emphasized the importance of early detection and rapid response to prevent small fires from becoming major disasters.
The Mooney Fire is now 100% contained at 25 acres, with all evacuation orders lifted. Firefighters will continue to strengthen containment lines and monitor for hot spots. Crews are conducting mop-up operations, which will continue through the night with reinforcement of containment lines. Over 20 personnel are assigned to the incident. All fire resources are off the line as of July 24, 2026, and the fire is in patrol status. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and sign up for local emergency alerts. For more information on fire safety and evacuation zones, visit the CAL FIRE website.
