Lucas Fire 20% Contained and 60 Dry Days in North Texas — September 14, 2026

Crews made progress on the Northern California fire that led yesterday's roundup, while a long dry stretch in North Texas has fire officials watching the wind. A third story is about what happens after the flames are out.

Lucas Fire holds at 4,008 acres with 20% containment

The Lucas Fire has burned 4,008 acres across Lake and Mendocino counties and reached 20% containment as of a 7 a.m. Sunday update, the Spokesman-Review reports, citing the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire started Thursday near the county line, and its cause is still under investigation.

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place in both counties. Cal Fire has set up an evacuation center and an animal evacuation center at the Lake County Fairgrounds at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport. Part of the Mendocino National Forest is closed, as are several sections of Highway 20.

Nearly 1,300 personnel are working the fire, with more than 60 fire engines, 35 water tenders, 50 hand crews and 17 helicopters. A red flag warning was in effect for Lake County from Saturday through Monday, with warmer temperatures, low humidity and strong winds raising fire danger.

Containment numbers describe the fire line, not the smoke. Wind can still carry haze well beyond the perimeter, so it is worth checking conditions before a long afternoon outside.

North Texas passes 60 days without measurable rain

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport has now gone 60 consecutive days without measurable rainfall, one of the three longest dry streaks on record for the area. FOX 4 News reports that with no significant rain in the near-term forecast, the yearly rainfall deficit has grown to about 3.25 inches.

Strong southerly winds gusting up to 20 mph, paired with humidity that drops through the afternoon, will keep wildfire risk elevated west of the Interstate 35 corridor and across parts of North Texas early this week.

A heat advisory covers the Metroplex and areas to the east, where humidity will push heat index values as high as 107. Afternoon highs are expected in the upper 90s to low 100s, close to 101 degrees and about one degree short of daily records. The heat ridge may shift slightly east later in the week, but the seven-day forecast has no real break in it.

A Spokane temple gives $30,000 to wildfire relief

The Sikh Temple of Spokane donated $30,000 on Sunday afternoon to the Innovia Foundation's Spokane Complex Wildfire Response Fund, the Spokesman-Review reports. The temple asked its members to contribute so it could present the money as one check.

"Whatever we receive from him, we give it back," said Simran Padda, a lifelong member of the temple. "We should give back as much as possible." Members said they chose Innovia because the foundation directs money to organizations working directly on relief.

Recovery work like this tends to run long after a fire stops making news, which is worth remembering when a season is as busy as this one.

Sources

• Northern California wildfire expands to more than 4,000 acres — Spokane Spokesman-Review
• DFW Airport reaches 60 days without measurable rain as heat index climbs to 107 — FOX 4 News
• Sikh Temple of Spokane donates $30,000 to wildfire relief — Spokane Spokesman-Review

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.