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August Complex makes run in Yuki Wilderness; new mapping drops overall acreage
As of Monday, the August Complex was at 755,603 acres with 30-percent containment, the US Forest Service reported.
It is the largest wildland fire in recorded California history, surpassing the second-largest – the 2018 Mendocino Complex – by nearly 300,000 acres.
Officials said Monday that the acreage of the August Complex has decreased by about 22,000 acres due to more accurate mapping and establishing management zones.
The US Forest Service and Cal Fire are engaged in a coordinated response to manage and suppress the August Complex, which complex consists of multiple fires that have burned together over the past month on the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests.
The complex has been divided into the North, South and West Zones for management purposes.
Officials said Monday that firefighters are continuing to mop up all along the fire’s perimeter utilizing both ground and aerial resources. Some of this work is being conducted by the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.
A dozer line is being completed around the Salt Creek Conservation Camp and may be followed by a burnout if necessary to help protect the area, officials said.
A structure protection group has been established in the Pillsbury Lake Basin to help protect infrastructure. This includes installing hose lays, supplying water dip tanks for helicopters and putting in dozer lines where appropriate. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor containment lines throughout the fire area, officials reported.
The fire crossed containment lines in the Yuki Wilderness Sunday and made a run to the west.
Firefighters worked on suppression efforts in that area Monday to contain the fire. Officials said crews are working closely with resource advisors in the wilderness to reduce suppression impacts.
Because of winds, high temperatures and dry fuels, officials said fire activity is expected to remain high.
New evacuations were issued Sunday night in Mendocino County. Additional evacuation orders are in effect for Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt and Trinity counties. More information on evacuations is available here.