NORTH COAST, Calif. – Thousands more acres of wildland burned over the course of Monday in northern Mendocino County due to a lightning fire complex that began more than a week ago.
The North Pass Fires, burning 10 miles northeast of Covelo, burned about 4,500 acres over the course of late Sunday night and Monday, according to acreage totals offered by the unified command of Cal Fire and the US Forest Service.
By nightfall Monday, the two lightning-caused fires that were sparked on Saturday, Aug. 18, had reached approximately 31,656 acres with 34 percent containment, officials reported.
The number of firefighters at the incident totaled 1,666 on Monday; resources included 116 engines, 26 fire crews, two airtankers, 12 helicopters, 33 bulldozers and 25 water tenders, according to the Cal fire and US Forest Service report.
Evacuations remained in effect on Monday for dozens of homes and businesses east of Covelo, with a US Forest Service closure order in effect for the northern two-thirds of the Covelo Ranger District.
Fire officials reported that the fires continued to spread north toward the Middle Fork of the Eel River, Hammerhorn Lake, Foster Glade and Asa Bean Ridge within the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness.
Officials also anticipate an eastward progression toward Forest Road M2 and Anthony Peak and southward toward Forest Highway 7, north towards Georges Valley and Soldier Ridge, and northeast toward Uhl Peak, Buck Rock and Little Buck Rock.
Fire crews have begun mopping up on the western flank of the fire along Asa Bean Ridge, while indirect line construction along Anthony Ridge and Forest Road M2 to prepare for future firing operations is planned for the next shift, the report said.
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