NEVADA COUNTY, Calif., July 27 (UPI) -- Four firefighters sustained burn injuries and were airlifted out of the Sierra Nevada mountain range as the "Lowell Fire" in Nevada County, Calif., was downgraded Sunday.
The firefighters received treatment at the University of California's Davis Burn Center in Sacramento, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
One of the firefighters sustained serious burn injuries. The other three were expected to be released late Sunday after treatment.
Of the injured firefighters, two work for CAL FIRE and two work for the U.S. Forest Service, including the firefighter who is seriously burned.
The Lowell Fire has burned more than 1,500 acres, down from a first-announced 4,000 acres, and is 15 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE.
Mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders have been issued throughout the area. No homes have been damaged by the fires so far.
Assessment of the fire was made difficult due to steep terrain. Air units were called to the scene to assist.
"The aircraft actually made a good stop here and bought us enough time to get in here and get our lines deployed and put out the littler fires," CAL FIRE Capt. Wayne Hamblin told KCRA Sacramento.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
