Quincy, CA, July 13, 2026 — Thunderstorms moved onto the east side of the Plumas National Forest this afternoon, resulting in one confirmed lightning fire. More storms are expected tonight and tomorrow across the forest.
This afternoon firefighters on the Beckwourth Ranger District responded to the Clouds Fire. The confirmed lightning fire was located near Carmen Saddle east of Nakoma Resort.
The fire was quickly contained at approximately a half acre and is currently in patrol status.
While storms this afternoon have generally been wet, more lightning is expected on dry fuels.
Holdover lightning fires can smolder for days and even weeks following a thunderstorm. After a wet thunderstorm, it can take several days of dry and warm weather for fires to become visible.
Firefighters will continue to monitor conditions and respond to lightning fires as they are discovered in the coming days.
There are numerous local and visiting wildland firefighting resources assigned to the Plumas National Forest prepared to respond to wildfires as needed. Public and firefighter safety is the highest priority this fire season.
Area residents and visitors are asked to be careful with anything that can spark a wildfire and to help prevent additional fires. The public can also report suspected wildfires by calling 911.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in worldclass science and technology and rooted in communities, the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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