NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Continued firing operations on two wildland fires in Colusa County resulted in heavy smoke in parts of Lake County on Friday, with more firing operations set to take place to try to slow down the fast-moving fires.
The two-fire 16 Complex grew by about 2,800 acres overnight, with Cal Fire reporting Friday morning that it had burned a total of 12,500 acres, with containment remaining at 20 percent.
The fires, burning since Tuesday, are located four miles apart off of Highway 16 in the Rumsey Canyon area.
Cal Fire estimated the incident will be fully contained on Monday.
Reports of smoke were coming in from around the county on Friday.
Cal Fire said firing operations to get rid of vegetation in the fire’s path had gone on throughout the night, and on Friday shortly before 2 p.m. radio reports indicated more firing operations were about to begin.
On Friday there were 1,268 personnel assigned to the incident, along with 63 engines, 48 fire crews, three airtankers, 10 helicopters, 22 bulldozers and 12 water tenders, Cal Fire said.
So far, three structures have been damaged, with dozens of homes on the Cortina Rancheria threatened. The rancheria remained under an evacuation order on Friday.
Highway 16 from the junction of Highway 20 to the town of Rumsey remained closed.
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