NORTH COAST, Calif. – A fire that began burning Monday afternoon in a rugged part of Mendocino County had burned a few hundred acres and several structures by nightfall, and sent large amounts of smoke into Lake County’s air basin.
The Flynn Fire began burning along Flynn Creek Road in Comptche at approximately 2:13 p.m. Monday, according to an evening report from Cal Fire.
The fire was at 200 acres and 5 percent containment Monday night, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the blaze had destroyed five structures and was threatening 70 more, but no evacuations had taken place.
The Flynn Fire is burning to the east into commercial timber property, with Cal Fire reporting that the fire’s behavior is moderate to extreme with long range spotting.
By Monday night 33 fire engines, 14 fire crews, five bulldozers, six airtankers, two helicopters and 444 firefighting personnel had been assigned to the incident, according to Cal Fire.
Late Monday afternoon a significant amount of smoke was making its way into Lake County, with Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells attributing it to the Flynn Fire.
At one point Lakeport Fire personnel were dispatched to a smoke check in the area of Crystal Lake Way, with firefighters concluding that the Flynn Fire was the source.
Cal Fire said the incident also was having a significant smoke impact on the Ukiah Valley area.
In addition to Cal Fire, cooperating agencies included the fire departments of Comptche, Anderson Valley, Mendocino and Albion, Mendocino County Sheriff”s Office and California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, with Ukiah Ambulance on standby.
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