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Mendocino Complex becomes largest wildland fire in California history, continues to threaten homes
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Mendocino Complex continued aggressively burning and threatening communities on Monday, with its day’s-end acreage total making it the largest wildland fire in state history.
Cal Fire said Monday evening that the complex has so far burned 283,800 acres, a more than 10,000-acre increase since the morning.
Total containment on Monday remained unchanged at 30-percent, with 11,300 structures remaining threatened, 143 destroyed — including 75 residences — an 26 damaged.
Because of the continued fire activity and threat to communities, on Monday thousands of Lake County residents along the Northshore, from Upper Lake past Clearlake Oaks, and into western Colusa County remained under mandatory evacuation status, officials reported.
In Colusa County, the fire continued to push north toward Lodoga and Stonyford. Early Tuesday morning, the fire appeared to be nearing Lodoga, but still had a distance to reach Stonyford, which is farther to the north, according to fire mapping.
With the complex not expected to be fully contained until Aug. 15, it’s likely the complex could set a far higher record for acres burned, and still more structures could be destroyed or damaged.
Much of the acreage growth has occurred on the largest of the complex’s two fires, the Ranch, which by itself is among the largest wildland fires in state history at 235,000 acres. Cal Fire said its containment also remained unchanged at 21 percent as it grew by 10,000 acres on Monday.
The other fire, the River, is at 48,800 acres, up by only about 140 acres since the start of the day, with containment holding at 58 percent, Cal Fire said.
The complex has shown little sign of slowing, aided by the summer’s hot weather conditions.
Cal Fire said that on Monday a higher pressure system brought warmer weather, drying and strong winds to the region.
That caused continued spread to the east-southeast sections of the Ranch fire, where Cal Fire said crews worked aggressively to hold previously established containment lines.
On Monday afternoon, the Ranch fire continued to burn aggressively in Spring Valley, where firefighters tried to protect homes as the fire burned on both sides of Spring Valley Road in the 2500 block. The short video clip below was shot by this reporter in the area before it was necessary to leave due to the fire’s advance.
In Spring Valley, the ridges are delineated by wide dozer lines, cut to try to stop the fire, with some of them believed to be from the June Pawnee fire.
By sunset, thick smoke from the Ranch fire was hanging over the county, creating a dramatic sunset and an orange-hued sky.
The activity on the River fire side of the complex on Monday involved what Cal Fire said was a successful firing operation in the Cow Mountain area, continuing to tie into Scotts Valley Road.
On Monday more engines, water tenders and dozers arrived to help fight the fire. Cal Fire said the assigned resources grew to 3,908 personnel, 441 engines, 93 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 62 hand crews and 85 dozers, along with air tankers.
Cal Fire said that on Monday night crews will try to take advantage of the lower temperatures to increase suppression and hold current containment lines.
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.
