NORTH COAST, Calif. – Firefighters on Friday were able to hold the growth of the Lodge Complex of lightning fires to only 10 acres while increasing the containment.
The complex, burning since July 30 in the rugged Wilderness Lodge/Eel River Canyon area in Mendocino County, had burned a total of 12,346 acres by the end of Friday, with containment increasing to 70 percent.
Cal Fire said fire crews are continuing to patrol areas outside the complex's control lines for any potential new spot fires, with repair work beginning on the fire's west side.
Officials were concerned on Friday that a high pressure system building over the area – and forecast to continue next week – will cause warmer and drier conditions.
The number of personnel working the fire was reduced to 1,527 on Friday, with Cal Fire reporting that 62 fire engines, 60 fire crews, eight bulldozers, seven helicopters and eight water tenders also were still assigned.
Two more injuries were reported on the complex Friday, bringing the total to 15, Cal Fire said.
The estimated suppression costs for the complex climbed by almost $3 million on Friday, reaching $32.8 million, according to Cal Fire.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.