NORTH COAST, Calif. – A wildland fire complex burning the last three weeks in portions of the Mendocino National Forest is expected to be fully contained by Monday evening.
By Sunday night, the North Pass Fire was 90-percent contained after having scorched 41,983 acres, the US Forest Service reported.
The North Pass Fire consists of two fires that began burning in the Williams Valley, 10 miles northeast of Covelo, on Saturday, Aug. 18, due to lightning strikes. The fires later moved to the north and east, spreading into the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness.
At the incident’s height, it was burning up to 4,000 acres a day, officials reported. It has since destroyed 26 structures and damaged four others.
The US Forest Service said the incident is expected to be fully contained by 6 p.m. Monday.
Approximately 422 personnel remained assigned to the fire on Sunday, officials said.
The Forest Service said hand crews are still required to improve and hold fire line in the north and west portion of the fire, and crews are working to repair fire line on Forest Highway 7, which will result in the road staying closed.
The main effort has shifted to mop up, fire suppression repair and roadside chipping, according to forest officials. Crews continue to cut down snags and remove fallen trees along M1, M2, M4, FH-7 and Blands Cove Road.
Dirt roads used for access or contingency lines are being regraded, and officials said roadside chipping operations involve heavy equipment that may block the forest roads, which are closed for this reason.
Indian Dick Road (Forest Road M-1) is open to Boardman Ridge Campground, and Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7) is open to benchmark 2444 (second driveway entrance to Bauer subdivision) for residents only with a valid ID, the forest reported.
Officials are asking that people help the firefighting effort by staying off roads in the fire area.
The North Pass Fire’s management is transitioning to a smaller management team on Tuesday at 6 a.m. A type 3 management team is scheduled to shadow Southern California Team 1 on Monday in preparation for assuming command on Tuesday. The Forest Service reported that the base camp and the incident command post will be co-located at the Round Valley Airport.
Repair efforts are expected to continue for weeks after containment is complete, forest officials said.
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