NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Lodge complex of lightning fires scorched another 1,000 acres of timberland on Tuesday, officials said.
The total acreage of the fire – burning since July 30 in the Wilderness Lodge and Eel River Canyon area of Mendocino County – has now reached 11,000 acres, with containment at 45 percent, according to Cal Fire's Tuesday evening report.
The fire's southeast portion continues to challenge firefighters, according to Cal Fire, with crews working to take advantage of the change in local weather to support the efforts to contain the complex.
Cal Fire said firefighters are continuing to improve contingency lines in the area of Cahto Peak and Ten Mile Creek.
An evacuation order remains in effect for areas south of Highway 101, west of Cummings Road to Leggett, including The Hermitage, Big Bend and Camp St. Michael, with the American Red Cross maintaining an evacuation shelter at the Leggett School, Cal Fire said.
An evacuation warning is still in effect for the Camp Seabow, Bowman Ranch, Hunt Ranch, Tan Oak Park, Elk Creek and Mad Creek areas, officials reported. A total of 16 structures are threatened.
No new injuries have been reported since earlier this week. Eleven have occurred so far, Cal Fire said.
Resources Cal Fire said were assigned to the complex on Tuesday included 2,324 personnel, 189 fire engines, 62 fire crews, 28 bulldozers, 13 helicopters and 25 water tenders.
Cal Fire's estimate of the complex' total suppression cost is $24 million.
The Lake County Air Quality Management District has reported that the fire is the main source of smoke and haze in Lake County's air basin.
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