Mendocino Complex grows by several thousand more acres Friday
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex continues to burn actively across its northern edges, with several thousand more acres added to the fire area on Friday.
As the complex marked its second week on Friday, Cal Fire said in its evening report that the total fire area had reached 312,447 acres, with total containment remaining at 60 percent.
The River fire near Lakeport continues to be held at 48,920 acres and 90-percent containment, with ground crews patrolling the fire area and conducting suppression repair.
On Friday another 5,000 acres burned on the Ranch fire in the north of the county, with its total rising to 263,527 acres and containment unchanged at 53 percent, Cal Fire reported.
The Ranch fire became more active on its northern perimeter on Friday, with aircraft working the area of the Pine Mountain Project south of Lake Pillsbury, as Lake County News has reported.
Cal Fire said fire crews have continued preparations for firing operations around the Pine Mountain Project, and improved flight conditions later on Friday allowed air attack to resume. However, radio reports also indicated air resources were diverted to a new fire threatening homes in Fairfield.
On the north side of the fire, tough terrain and heavy smoke that limit accessibility are continuing to challenge firefighters on the ground, Cal Fire said.
In the southern portion of the Ranch fire area, Cal Fire said containment lines continue to hold and crews are actively patrolling the perimeter, with fire suppression repair crews beginning work in the southwest.
Mapping shows the Ranch fire has not advanced much further north than the edges of Lodoga in Colusa County, although there appeared to be more recent fire activity to the west of that area.
On Friday, officials lifted the mandatory evacuation orders for the area south of the Mendocino National Forest boundary in Lake County and in Colusa County for all areas north of Highway 20, east of the Mendocino National Forest boundary, south of Lodoga, and west of Bear Valley Road/ Leesville-Lodoga Road. In Colusa County, the evacuation order for areas north of Lodoga remain in effect.
Evacuation advisories for the Northshore, which had remained in place after the mandatory evacuations were lifted earlier this week, also were ended on Friday.
Officials said the Mendocino National Forest also remains closed.
The other development officials reported Friday is that the number of structure threatened by the complex dropped from 9,200 to 1,525 by day’s end.
Cal Fire’s current damage assessment remains at 229 structures destroyed, of which 119 are homes, and 27 damaged, including 12 residences.
As containment continues to increase on the complex, and with more fires burning around the state, the resources assigned have begun to be dialed back.
Cal Fire said approximately 3,521 personnel, 293 engines, 92 water tenders, 20 helicopters, 65 hand crews and 80 dozers continue to work the complex, which is expected to be fully contained on Sept. 1.
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