Two wildfires burning near Portola, Calif.

Bill Gabbert
July 3, 2021

9:30 a.m. PDT July 3, 2021

Dotta & Sugar Fires California — Dotta & Sugar Fires, as seen from the camera on Beckwourth Peak, looking northeast at 7:42 p.m. July 2, 2021. The fires were being pushed by strong outflow winds from a thunderstorm cell.

Two lightning-caused wildfires are burning near Portola and Beckwourth, California north of Highway 70. A Red Flag Warning will be in effect at 11 p.m. Saturday night for more lightning and strong winds.

(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dotta and Sugar Fires and the Beckwourth Complex of fires, including the most recent, click HERE.)

Dotta & Sugar Fires map — Map showing the location of the Dotta & Sugar Fires detected by a satellite at 3:54 a.m. PDT July 3, 2021. The red dots are the most current.

Dotta Fire
The Dotta Fire was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday June 30, seven miles northeast of Portola. As of Saturday morning it has burned 533 acres. Evacuation warnings are in effect. During the satellite overflight at 3:54 a.m. Saturday it was about a mile west of Dixie Valley Road.

Sugar Fire
The Sugar Fire started July 2, six miles east of Portola. It is very near the Plumas National Forest boundary, but the Forest has responsibility for suppression in that location, according to CAL FIRE. On Friday the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office evacuated several structures that were threatened. The latest report Saturday morning is that it has burned 250 acres.