LNU Lightning Complex continues to challenge firefighters; growth limited on Tuesday
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters were hard at work on Tuesday as the LNU Lightning Complex made runs across portions of southern Lake County.
The fire grew to 356,326 acres by Tuesday evening – increasing by approximately 3,413 acres during the course of the day – with containment remaining at 27 percent, according to Cal Fire’s report.
Cal Fire said the number of structures destroyed has risen to 978, with 256 damaged.
The Hennessey fire, on the east side of complex in Lake, Napa, Solano and Yolo counties, has burned 299,463 acres and is 29-percent contained, Cal Fire said.
On the Sonoma County side of the complex, the Walbridge fire west of Healdsburg has burned 54,503 acres and is 17-percent contained, while the Meyers fire north of Jenner remains at 2,360 acres and 97-percent containment.
The number of personnel increased by about a dozen during the day, for a total 2,207, while the number of engines decreased by nearly the same amount to 293. In addition, 66 water tenders, 11 helicopters, 18 hand crews and 56 dozers are assigned to the incident.
In recent days, the firefighting force assigned to the complex has held its growth to far smaller amounts than the tens of thousands of acres it scorched in its first days.
However, officials said the situation remains challenging.
Cal Fire said Tuesday evening that extreme fire behavior with short and long-range spotting are continuing to make firefighting efforts difficult.
On Tuesday afternoon, radio traffic indicated firefighters were busy in the Guenoc Ranch area, and Paul Duncan, a Cal Fire division chief from Cobb, reported on Facebook that the Hennessey fire had crossed a containment line in Guenoc Ranch and was moving west, with air and ground resources actively working it.
Duncan said to expect heavy ash and smoke in Hidden Valley Lake and the Ranchos.
He reported that the portion of the fire south of Middletown “is still presenting suppression challenges, moving to the north and east.”
With the fire remaining active and still continuing to grow, officials said evacuation orders and warnings for the south county remain in effect.
In his Facebook posts, Duncan said there is no estimated time yet for repopulation of the south county’s evacuated areas, adding that he understands the frustration and apologizes for the inconvenience, “but we can’t repopulate if the fireline is not secured.”
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