Evacuation Ordered For Mines Road As Lightning Complex Fires Rage

LIVERMORE, CA — Evacuations were ordered at about 1 p.m. Wednesday for Mines Road residents south of Mile Marker 10, with warnings issued for Mines Road residents between Mile Markers 2-10, due to the dangerous threat of the SCU Lightning Complex fires, the Alameda County Sheriff Office said.

Evacuees are directed to head north, officials said.

The SCU Lightning Complex fires are comprised of 20 blazes burning in Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa and Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.

The lightning-sparked fires began around 4 a.m. Sunday and have scorched a collective 85,000 acres, Cal Fire reported Wednesday morning.

As smoke and ash spread throughout the region, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has extended Spare the Air alerts through Sunday, due to the elevated particulate pollution levels caused by the wildfires.

The Livermore Valley is expected to see the heaviest impacts from the smoke pollution, as well as areas on the Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley, according to the air district.

• RELATED: Fires In East, South Bay Area More Than Double To 85K Acres