NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – As the August Complex burns deeper into public lands, officials are planning an online meeting this week to update the community on their efforts to contain the fires.
The US Forest Service said the August Complex added another 13,000 acres from Tuesday to Wednesday, with containment up by 1 percent to 39 percent.
The complex, which began on Aug. 17, is burning on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests, where it’s destroyed 35 structures and continues to threaten nearly 1,600 more. It’s expected to be fully contained on Nov. 15.
The team managing the August Complex-South Zone will hold a virtual public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday to provide a fire overview and to allow the public to ask questions. The meeting will be live-streamed on the Mendocino National Forest Facebook page.
Officials said firefighters completed burning operations to the north of Lake Pillsbury on Tuesday, finishing firing activities that have been occurring over the past several days.
Evacuation orders in Lake County remain in effect in the Pillsbury Ranch and Lake Pillsbury basin areas.
Crews will now complete holding and mopping up actions along the control lines used in these efforts. This includes looking for and extinguishing areas of remaining heat near these lines. Once the area has cooled over the next few days, additional containment in this area is expected, officials said.
The Forest Service said helicopters have been assisting in cooling the fire and holding control lines through water drops near Mill Creek and areas to the northwest of Pillsbury Ranch.
Fire crews and dozers from Cal Fire continue suppression efforts near the main edge of the fire to the northwest, including constructing line where possible, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Forest Service said firefighters continue structure protection in the Pillsbury Basin and along control lines to the west. This includes installing and testing hose lays and sprinklers for use in holding operations.
In the complex’s South Zone, in addition to the evacuation orders for Lake County, there also are active orders for Mendocino County, officials said.
Evacuation information can also be found here.
August Complex adds more acreage; Thursday virtual community meeting planned
- Lake County News reports
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