MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – The Mendocino National Forest is currently locating and taking action to suppress fires started by lightning during a series of storms from Thursday evening through Saturday.
The forest received more than 200 lightning strikes over that three-day period, according to a Sunday report from forest spokesperson Tamara Schmidt.
Schmidt said the forest has identified four fires on the Upper Lake and Covelo Ranger Districts on the west side of the forest and two fires on the Grindstone Ranger District, located on the east side of the forest.
All four fires on the Upper Lake and Covelo Ranger Districts are small and have been contained at less than an acre, Schmidt reported. The Mickey Fire, which was identified Thursday evening in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness is out.
On the Grindstone Ranger District, the Wallow Fire was discovered Friday and contained at one-tenth of an acre Saturday, according to Schmidt.
The Crocket Fire is currently burning on the north end of the Snow Mountain Wilderness and is approximately 10 acres, she said.
Schmidt said it is burning in heavy slash, brush and some timber in the same area as the 2001 Trough Fire. It is expected to be contained on Sunday, but smoke will still be visible for the next several days.
Fire managers are asking the public to avoid the Crocket Fire Area due to increased fire traffic – both on the ground and in the air – as they work to achieve control of the fire.
As conditions continue to dry out and warm up, forest firefighters anticipate discovering more lightning fires in the coming days. As a reminder, Schmidt said the forest is currently under fire restrictions.
To report a fire, please call 911.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316, or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
Updates also are available on Twitter @MendocinoNF.