MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Over the past week the Mendocino National Forest has been locating and containing fires following some 350 lightning strikes hitting the forest Monday and Tuesday.
Forest spokeswoman Tamara Schmidt said a total of six fires were located and contained.
All of the fires are small – seven acres or less, Schmidt said.
On the Grindstone Ranger District, located on the east side of the forest, the Green Springs Fire was half an acre. Schmidt said the Kneecap Fire was contained this weekend at just under seven acres.
On the Covelo Ranger District, located on the northwest side of the forest, the Calamese and Blands fires, each single-tree fires, were controlled early in the week, Schmidt said.
On the Upper Lake Ranger District, located on the southwest side of the forest, the half-acre Windy Fire was discovered late in the week and controlled Saturday, Schmidt said.
The Monkey Rock Fire was also contained at a quarter-acre on the Upper Lake Ranger District, according to Schmidt.
She said the forest is continuing to fly daily recon looking for additional fires.
As conditions continue to dry out and warm up, firefighters anticipate discovering more lightning fires in coming days, Schmidt said.
“We were able to catch all of these fires early and keep them relatively small due to the vigilance and hard work of our firefighters,” said Forest Fire Management Officer Curtis Coots. “With the ongoing drought, this rapid response is important not only in preserving water resources, but also reducing impacts on already stressed natural resources out in the forest.”
Forest visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings and to be prepared for changing conditions. This includes reporting visible smoke that could be from a wildfire.
To report a fire, please call 911.
The Mendocino National Forest is currently under fire restrictions. Visitors are asked to follow regulations and be careful with anything with a flame or that can throw a spark in the forest. For more information, visit www.preventwildfireca.org/OneLessSpark/ .
For updates follow the forest on Twitter, @MendocinoNF.
Firefighters find, contain Mendocino National Forest lightning fires
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