- Lake County News reports
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August Complex continues to burn toward Lake Pillsbury; number of threatened structures grows
On Thursday, the Forest Service said the complex – which began a month ago following a round of lightning storms – had grown to 839,175 acres, with containment remaining at 30 percent.
It is burning on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests.
Officials said 35 structures have been destroyed and another 1,595 are threatened.
The Forest Service said Thursday that the complex is expected to be fully contained on Nov. 15.
In the South Zone of the August Complex, evacuation orders are in effect for Mendocino, Glenn and Lake counties, officials said. In Lake County, the evacuation orders cover Pillsbury Ranch and the entire Lake Pillsbury basin. Evacuation information is available here.
A virtual community meeting to discuss the complex’s South Zone – which includes the Doe fire area that burned into Lake County – is planned for 7 p.m. Thursday. It will be live-streamed on the Mendocino National Forest Facebook page.
The Thursday report on the complex said its South Zone continues to steadily spread toward the southwest while containment increases on the eastern side.
Weeks of record temperatures and limited precipitation have expanded severe drought conditions across much of the area. Due to these conditions, the Forest Service said growth is expected to continue on the complex even with the chance of rain in the forecast over the next few days.
In the Yuki and Sanhedrin Wilderness areas, the fire will continue to move toward the Lake Pillsbury area, and to the west beyond the Impassable Rock area, officials said.
In the Lake Pillsbury area, crews and dozers connected fire line to previously constructed fire lines from the 2018 Ranch fire. Structure protection groups are committed to building fire lines and removing vegetation around private property and critical communications infrastructure, the Forest Service said.
Cal Fire personnel are assigned to assist with operations in the southwestern corner of the fire. If necessary, a tactical burnout around structures in the area may take place. Officials said this is done in order to prevent the main fire from spreading rapidly toward structures.
In the Elder Creek area, additional containment has been obtained as crews continue mop-up operations with a focus on having this area of the fire contained within a few more days, officials said.
Vegetation interior to the perimeter of the fire and near the eastern edge of the fire continues to smolder and produce smoke. The Forest Service said control lines in the area of Salt Creek are holding well.
Officials said humidity is expected to increase, with a slight chance of rain Thursday and Friday. Temperatures in the area of the fire will remain in the upper 60s to the mid-70s. Southwesterly winds are forecast as a low-pressure system moves through.