NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Sunday new evacuations were ordered in response to the massive lighting-sparked August Complex, which has been burning for nearly a month in forestlands across several counties.
The US Forest Service and Cal Fire are engaged in a coordinated response to manage and suppress the August Complex.
Officials said the complex consists of multiple fires that have burned together and are collectively known as the August Complex.
The Complex has been divided into three zones: South, North and West. The South Zone is located primarily in the Mendocino National Forest, geographically from the South Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness to just north of Lake Pillsbury, officials said.
The August Complex has grown to 877,477 acres and was up to 28-percent containment on Sunday. It is listed as the largest fire in California history.
The South Zone – formerly known as the Doe fire – is now 503,086 acres.
Firefighters are mopping up along the fire’s perimeter where fire activity is low, increasing its containment. Officials said they continue to reduce fuels around Lake Pillsbury and in communities near the Eel River and Bauer Ridge to help protect infrastructure. This includes installing hose lays, water dip tanks for helicopters and putting in dozer lines where appropriate.
The Forest Service said aerial resources will continue to utilize water drops on hot spots around the fire’s perimeter. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor fire activity throughout the fire area.
Officials said they continue to deal with challenging weather conditions. High winds and temperatures, low humidity and critically dry fuels are continuing to spur fire activity.
Evacuations are in effect in many counties, including Lake, where Pillsbury Ranch and the entire Lake Pillsbury basin remain under evacuation orders.
On Sunday evening, Cal Fire, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office jointly issued an evacuation order for areas west of the National Forest boundary, north of Thomas Creek and the Eel River, and east of Twin Bridges Creek, south of Bald Mountain; west of Elk Creek south of Deep Hole Creek, north of the National Forest Boundary; and west of the Eel River, north of Deep Hole Creek, east of Eden Valley, including the entire valley floor, south of Eden Creek.
At the same time, they issued an evacuation warning for south of the Middle Fork of the Eel River, west of Eden Creek, north of Salt Flat and east of Salt Creek; east of Brushy Mountain, south of the fire road on Salt Flat, west of Eden Valley and north of Bald Mountain; south and west of the Eel River, north of Foster Mountain Road, east of the ridge west of Willits Road; and north of Twin Bridges Creek, east of the Eel River, south of Brushy Creek and west of Brushy Mountain.
Due to unprecedented and historic fire conditions throughout the state, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region issued a temporary closure of all 18 National Forests in California effective through Sept. 14.
August Complex growth prompts new evacuation orders, warnings
- Lake County News reports
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