NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – A wildland fire burning for the past week in the Mendocino National Forest appeared to be in a crucial holding pattern on Saturday, with small advances both in acreage and containment on Saturday night.
The Mill Fire, burning near Upper Letts Lake and 10 miles west of Stonyford in the Colusa County side of the forest, began burning last Saturday, July 7. Forest officials have estimated it will take another full week to contain it.
By Saturday the fire had burned 25,578 acres, up approximately 44 acres from the previous day, with containment rising 5 percent to reach 55 percent, according to the Mendocino National Forest.
Forest officials have put the firefighting costs to date at $9 million.
Approximately 1,664 firefighting personnel continued to work on the fire Saturday. Included in the effort were 30 Type 1 crews, 15 Type 2 crews, nine helicopters, 107 engines, 20 dozers and 13 water tenders.
As they had for the last several days, on Saturday firefighters continued burning operations in order to secure the Mill Fire’s containment lines and remove fuel. Firing on the fire’s south and southeast flanks is expected to continue Sunday.
While Lake County Air Quality Management District had predicted air quality conditions in the “good” category on Saturday, Lake County residents experienced more smoke coming into the air basin from the fire.
A Saturday night report cautioned that residents should still be aware of smoke impacts, as smoke from the fire will be visible as burnout operations continue for at least one more day.
In addition to firing operations, firefighters on Saturday were working to extinguish hot spots on the edge of the fire, and also patroling 300 feet inside the fire lines to assess conditions and begin making repairs related to the fire suppression effort, officials reported.
Visitors to the Mendocino National Forest should be aware that Goat Mountain Road is now closed. Forest officials reported that the closure will be in effect for the duration of firing operations, and is for firefighter and public safety.
Fire crews will be working on the narrow road and falling debris may make travel dangerous, officials reported.
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