A vegetation fire that started Tuesday afternoon has prompted evacuations in Nevada County, according to Cal Fire, the state’s fire management agency. The Rices Fire is in the area of Rice’s Crossing near the community of Bridgeport, officials said. It has burned at least 350 acres as of 4 p.m., and there are multiple spot fires, Cal Fire said.This started as a fully involved structure that extended into vegetation and is at a moderate rate of spread. There is a large response from fire crews that include aircraft as well as ground units.While earlier fires so far this season have burned in grassy vegetation, this one has been setting trees on fire, which the Northern California region has not seen so far this year. That typically does not happen until later in the summer, according to Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan.LiveCopter 3 spotted a home fully engulfed around 5:13 p.m.The community of Bridgeport is about 14 miles away from Nevada City.Rices Fire evacuations, road closures and evacuation pointsEvacuation orders as of 4:25 p.m. were issued for these areas: Birchville, Sweetland, French Corral, Bridgeport, Rice’s Crossing and the Buttermilk area.With evacuation orders, there is an immediate threat to life and you are required to leave immediately.Evacuation warnings as of 4:25 p.m. were issued for these areas: Sebastopol, North San Juan, New School, the Robinson area, Greater Tyler Foote, northern Purdon Road, Millhouse, Monezuma and Central Purdon. With evacuation warnings, you are not required to leave but are recommended to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice in case of dangerous fire behavior.In Yuba County, evacuation advisories were also issued in the area south of the New Bullards Bar Reservoir and south of Lake Francis, county officials tweeted at 4:41 p.m. An advisory means that residents should be on alert in case fire conditions become threatening.See all evacuation orders and warnings below. App users, click here. The Nevada County Office of Emergency Services opened a temporary evacuation point at the Madelyn Helling Library on 980 Helling Way in Nevada City.There are road closures in place on Pleasant Valley at Birchville and Pleasant Valley at Bridgeport.The Nevada County Fairgrounds is open to receive animals if you have been displaced by the fire, according to the sheriff’s office.Sign up for emergency alerts in Nevada County here.Related Video Below | Wildfire smoke picked up on radar| RELATED | 2022 Northern California wildfire resources: Where to find county evacuation info, maps, alerts and moreHow to minimize fire riskAcross the region, green fields have been turning to brown as grasses dry out. Grass fires will have the chance to spread quickly in conditions if a fire breaks out.Firefighters are urging people to be careful and make sure they have defensible space around their property. People should avoid using power equipment during this period and make sure to remove any chains hanging off their cars.Cal Fire is also suspending burn permits for outdoor residential burning starting on Monday, May 23. This affects Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties.”We are experiencing drought conditions and extreme fire weather much earlier than usual for this time of year,” Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado division said. “Although debris burning is useful to reduce flammable vegetation, the conditions in the Amador-El Dorado Unit have reached the point where debris burning poses an unacceptable risk of starting a wildfire.”KCRA’s Fire Threat IndexKCRA 3’s weather team has developed a new tool the team will be using to keep you informed as fire conditions change. It’s called the Fire Threat Index. This will give you an idea of the fire risk on any given day in different areas of our coverage region so you can plan ahead.| MORE LIKE THIS | 2022 California Wildfire Preparedness Guide: What to know and how to stay safeLearn more about our fire threat index and other information to keep you and your loved ones safe by watching our “Wildfire Ready” special.
A vegetation fire that started Tuesday afternoon has prompted evacuations in Nevada County, according to Cal Fire, the state’s fire management agency.
The Rices Fire is in the area of Rice’s Crossing near the community of Bridgeport, officials said. It has burned at least 350 acres as of 4 p.m., and there are multiple spot fires, Cal Fire said.
This started as a fully involved structure that extended into vegetation and is at a moderate rate of spread. There is a large response from fire crews that include aircraft as well as ground units.
While earlier fires so far this season have burned in grassy vegetation, this one has been setting trees on fire, which the Northern California region has not seen so far this year. That typically does not happen until later in the summer, according to Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan.
LiveCopter 3 spotted a home fully engulfed around 5:13 p.m.
The community of Bridgeport is about 14 miles away from Nevada City.
Rices Fire evacuations, road closures and evacuation points
Evacuation orders as of 4:25 p.m. were issued for these areas: Birchville, Sweetland, French Corral, Bridgeport, Rice’s Crossing and the Buttermilk area.
With evacuation orders, there is an immediate threat to life and you are required to leave immediately.
Evacuation warnings as of 4:25 p.m. were issued for these areas: Sebastopol, North San Juan, New School, the Robinson area, Greater Tyler Foote, northern Purdon Road, Millhouse, Monezuma and Central Purdon.
With evacuation warnings, you are not required to leave but are recommended to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice in case of dangerous fire behavior.
In Yuba County, evacuation advisories were also issued in the area south of the New Bullards Bar Reservoir and south of Lake Francis, county officials tweeted at 4:41 p.m. An advisory means that residents should be on alert in case fire conditions become threatening.
See all evacuation orders and warnings below. App users, click here.
The Nevada County Office of Emergency Services opened a temporary evacuation point at the Madelyn Helling Library on 980 Helling Way in Nevada City.
There are road closures in place on Pleasant Valley at Birchville and Pleasant Valley at Bridgeport.
The Nevada County Fairgrounds is open to receive animals if you have been displaced by the fire, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sign up for emergency alerts in Nevada County here.
Related Video Below | Wildfire smoke picked up on radar
| RELATED | 2022 Northern California wildfire resources: Where to find county evacuation info, maps, alerts and more
How to minimize fire risk
Across the region, green fields have been turning to brown as grasses dry out. Grass fires will have the chance to spread quickly in conditions if a fire breaks out.
Firefighters are urging people to be careful and make sure they have defensible space around their property. People should avoid using power equipment during this period and make sure to remove any chains hanging off their cars.
Cal Fire is also suspending burn permits for outdoor residential burning starting on Monday, May 23. This affects Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties.
“We are experiencing drought conditions and extreme fire weather much earlier than usual for this time of year,” Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado division said. “Although debris burning is useful to reduce flammable vegetation, the conditions in the Amador-El Dorado Unit have reached the point where debris burning poses an unacceptable risk of starting a wildfire.”
KCRA’s Fire Threat Index
KCRA 3’s weather team has developed a new tool the team will be using to keep you informed as fire conditions change. It’s called the Fire Threat Index. This will give you an idea of the fire risk on any given day in different areas of our coverage region so you can plan ahead.
| MORE LIKE THIS | 2022 California Wildfire Preparedness Guide: What to know and how to stay safe
Learn more about our fire threat index and other information to keep you and your loved ones safe by watching our “Wildfire Ready” special.
