Firefighters continue work to stop Mendocino Complex’s northern progression
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After having slowed during the day on Tuesday, the Ranch fire on the Mendocino Complex had another active night, burning more acreage as it moves north through the Mendocino National Forest.
As of Wednesday morning, the complex had burned 363,845 acres, a 10,000-acre increase in a 24-hour period, with containment staying flat at 64 percent, Cal Fire reported.
With the River fire now fully contained at 48,920 acres, the activity continues on the Ranch fire, which Cal Fire said on Wednesday was up to 314,925 acres. Its containment also is at 64 percent.
Cal Fire said the Ranch fire continues to threaten the Mendocino National Forest – where it’s already burning in the Snow Mountain Wilderness and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument – as well as communities located north of the fire perimeter.
Throughout the night, the Ranch fire progressed north, steep and rugged terrain, dry fuel and hot weather continue to challenge firefighters, Cal Fire said.
Overnight, fire crews constructed control lines and implemented new dozer lines, tying together preexisting containment barriers. Cal Fire said crews also continued structure preparation and defense in the communities threatened by the Ranch fire.
On Wednesday, crews are focusing operations on the northwest and northeast edges of the Ranch fire, while continuing to develop strategic plans to slow the northern push towards Lake Pillsbury. The south side of the fire has had no significant events and remains in suppression repair and patrol status.
Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore said that on Tuesday, firefighters reinforced the dozer line along Gilmore Ridge and north through the 2012 Mill Fire scar toward Davis Flat. The operation went well and the line is holding. Construction of the dozer line along Brushy Camp and Noel Ridges was completed.
Work also began on Tuesday on the new dozer line from Lake Pillsbury along Cabbage Patch Ridge toward Little Round Mountain, with that work continuing on Wednesday, Moore said.
Moore said crews patrolled and extinguished hotspots in the Rice Fork homes and Pillsbury Lake areas. Air tankers and helicopters were used to support firefighters on the ground.
On Wednesday, firefighters are patrolling and holding the fireline along Gilmore Ridge and north to Davis Flat, improving the line along Brushy Camp and Noel Ridges, constructing a dozer line from Davis Flat toward Sheetiron Mountain, continuing to look for hot spots near the the Rice Fork homes and Pillsbury Lake, and constructing a contingency line west of
Stonyford to Black Diamond Ridge, Moore said.
In other fire-related news, officials will hold a community meeting on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Potter Valley to discuss the Ranch fire. The meeting will be at the Potter Valley Junior/Senior High School located at 10401 Main St.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.