Red flag warning in effect for August Complex South Zone
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – US Forest Service officials said firefighters have gained more containment on the August Complex while holding the massive incident to no new growth for several days, and are watching red flag weather conditions in the fire area.
The August Complex is estimated at 1,032,264 acres and 92 percent containment. The estimated acreage has not changed since Sunday.
The complex started Aug. 16 and 17 by lightning.
Officials said the Southwest Area Incident Management Team transferred the management of the August Complex South Zone back to the Mendocino National Forest on Thursday.
The South Zone includes areas in northern Lake County, primarily Mendocino National Forest lands.
The complex also is burning in the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests.
There are 286 personnel assigned to the South Zone and 991 on the incident overall, the Forest Service said.
“We are committed to maintaining and monitoring the South Zone of the August Complex to ensure no fire breaches the existing containment lines,” said Incident Commander Curtis Coots.
“With the red flag warning in effect through Friday, fire crews will be extra vigilant around dead standing trees (or snags) as windy conditions continue.”
The red flag is in effect through noon on Friday. The wind will be out of the north, northeast at 12 to 15 miles per hour with gusts to 25 miles per hour on the ridges and the temperature will be in the 80s to 90s.
On Wednesday, the Gravelly spike camp was dismantled, and repair began. The Forest Service said crews continued to reinforce containment lines in the Hellhole area.
On Thursday, crews monitored and patrolled the South Zone and reinforced containment lines in the Hellhole Canyon area. Officials said active fire in this area will continue to smolder and creep for some time.
Scattered heat sources remain in the southwest corner of the zone, however, these areas remain well within the interior of existing containment lines, the Forest Service reported.