A fast-moving fire broke out Wednesday afternoon near Nevada City, forcing evacuations across several neighborhoods before firefighters managed to stop its spread at just under 20 acres.
The blaze, now being called the Yuba Fire, ignited in an open field near the 11000 block of Yuba Ridge Drive. According to Cal Fire NEU, crews arrived to find the flames spreading at a moderate pace, with at least one nearby structure under threat. As of the latest update, it remains unclear whether any buildings were actually damaged or destroyed in the incident.
By evening, firefighters had stopped the fire’s growth, holding it at approximately 19 acres. Investigators have not yet determined what sparked the flames, and the cause remains under investigation.
The fire’s rapid spread prompted evacuation orders across three zones, identified as NCO-E075, CSP-E058, and NCO-E085. Notably, this included part of the South Yuba River State Park, a popular recreational area. Three additional zones — NCO-E074, NCO-E245, and NCO-E311 — were placed under evacuation warnings as a precaution while crews worked to contain the fire.
Officials opened a temporary evacuation center at the Madelyn Helling Library on Helling Way for displaced residents, while pet and livestock owners were directed to a separate shelter set up at the Nevada County Horsemen facility on Bubbling Wells Road in Grass Valley.
Several roads were also shut down as crews battled the flames, including Jones Bar Road, Newtown Road, and a stretch of Nishinam Gulch near Highway 49, disrupting travel in the area for several hours.
By 6 p.m., fire crews confirmed the danger had passed. All evacuation orders and warnings across the affected zones were officially lifted, allowing residents to return home even as the investigation into the fire’s origin continues.