NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A group of massive fires on three National Forests have burned together and are now being managed together in one incident that is by far the largest wildland fire incident in California history.
The US Forest Service said on Friday that the fires known as the August Complex – or the Doe – along with the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow and Vinegar were combined and are now collectively known as the August Complex.
The August Complex has grown to 875,059 acres and is listed as the largest fire in California history.
The complex will be split into three management zones: South, North and West, the Forest Service reported.
These fires have all burned together and the intent is to simplify the coordination of effort, ordering and timely release of accurate information, officials said.
The South Zone consists of the Doe Fire; the main area previously identified as the August Complex. It reached 498,202 acres and 25-percent containment on Saturday.
The August Complex will be managed under unified incident command between Great Basin Team 2-DeMasters (South Zone), California Interagency Incident Management Team 5-Young (North Zone), and Cal Fire Team 5-Parkes (West Zone).
The August Complex is burning on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests.
Smoke cleared on parts of the fire Friday and helicopters assisted crews with water drops on hot spots around the fire. On Saturday, the Forest Service said crews continued to clear fuels and prepare around structures near Lake Pillsbury and in the communities near Eel River and Bauer Ridge.
Officials said authorization has been given to utilize a decommissioned road within the Yuki Wilderness and resources will enter the area as necessary for fire suppression. Fire resources are coordinating with Cal Fire Team 5 on the West Zone.
Evacuations are in effect in many counties, including Lake County, where Pillsbury Ranch and the entire Lake Pillsbury basin remain under a mandatory order.
For property owners who would like to talk to the Mendocino National Forest about access into their cabins, call the Forest Supervisor’s Office at 530-934-3316 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week.
More fires join August Complex, which grows to 875,000 acres
- Lake County News reports
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