NORTH COAST, Calif. – As two wildland fires continued burning into the Mendocino National Forest on Tuesday, firing and mop up operations also were under way.
The North Pass Fires were sparked by lightning along Mendocino Pass Road, 10 miles northeast of Covelo, on Saturday, Aug. 18.
A Tuesday night report from the Cal Fire and US Forest Service unified command said the fires had burned 32,675 acres and were 35-percent contained.
On scene Tuesday were 1,648 fire personnel, 116 engines, 24 fire crews, two airtankers, 12 helicopters, 25 bulldozers and 29 water tenders, Cal Fire and the US Forest Service reported.
Fire crews began firing operations in the southeastern side of the fire, which continued through Monday night and early Tuesday morning, the report explained. Mopping up started on Monday along the western flank of the fire on Asa Bean Ridge.
Officials anticipate the fire will spread northeast toward Tantrum Glade (USFS Road M2), north toward Wrights Valley, Hole in the Ground and Hopkins Peak over the next 48 hours.
Evacuation orders remained in effect on Tuesday for dozens of residences east of Covelo. As of Tuesday, officials said the fires had destroyed four residences and seven outbuildings.
The fires have continued to spread north toward the Middle Fork of the Eel River, Hammerhorn Lake, Foster Glade and Asa Bean Ridge within the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness, eastward toward Forest Road M2 and south toward Forest Highway 7.
Forest officials said a closure order is in effect for the northern two-thirds of the Covelo Ranger District.
Forest Service officials said that on Monday heat from a large smoke column rose into the air and merged into a cloud, which then developed into a large pyrocumulus cloud that was noticeable from miles around.
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