Friday, 29 March 2024

Firefighters make progress on Yolla Bolly fires

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST – Forest officials reported Friday that firefighters are gaining ground in battling fires that lightning strikes caused in the forest earlier this week.


Firefighters made good progress Thursday, reaching 20 percent containment on the Yolla Bolly Complex in the Mendocino National Forest, according to the report. Firefighters were aided by air tankers dropping retardant and helicopters dropping water on hot spots while they continued to construct line around several fires.


The 13 fires in the Yolla Bolly Complex started the afternoon of Aug. 29 because of lightning moving across the forest, forest officials reported. Some of the fires were not visible from the air Thursday and at last count there were nine confirmed fires in the complex, with four reported contained.


All but one of the fires is located in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness northeast of Covelo, according to the report. The fires range in size from one quarter of an acre to 40 acres.


The Butte Fire at 40 acres is located on Bureau of Land Management land west of the Mendocino National Forest in an area under the forest’s fire protection authority, the report stated. The Mendocino National Forest Hot Shots are assigned to this fire; fireline construction is completed.


There was one injury reported on the Butte Fire Thursday, when a U.S. Forest Service firefighter was hit by a dead standing tree. The firefighter was flown to a hospital for observation and later released, officials reported.


The Sugarloaf Fire near Sugarloaf Mountain in the middle of the wilderness was the most active fire Thursday night growing to 40 acres. Forest officials reported that the American River Hot Shots from the Tahoe National Forest are assigned to the Sugarloaf and were assisted Friday by a load of smokejumpers and a helicopter that will be dropping water to keep the fire from spreading into heavier vegetation.


Officials reported that the first priority on the Yolla Bolly Complex is providing firefighter and public safety. Approximately 100 personnel and two helicopters are committed to the incident. Additional resources have been ordered.


Aircraft and lookout personnel will be keeping an eye for new fires, Mendocino Forest officials reported, because it is not unusual to find new fires several days after lightning strikes are reported.


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