Mendocino Complex growth continues to be curbed; more mandatory evacuations lifted
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters kept the growth of the Mendocino Complex to well under 1,000 acres during the course of Thursday, as more Lake County residents were allowed to return home.
Cal Fire said Thursday night that the complex had reached 305,152 acres, a size increase of approximately 750 acres, with containment edging up by 1 percent to total 52 percent .
All of that growth occurred on the Ranch fire, which increased to 256,232 acres and 49-percent containment, while the River fire continued to be held to 48,920 acres and 87-percent containment.
The damage assessment totals released by Cal Fire remain unchanged from Wednesday: 229 structures have been destroyed, including 119 homes; and 27 structures, among them 12 homes, have been damaged.
Cal Fire said 9,200 structures remain threatened by the fire’s activity.
On Thursday afternoon, officials allowed residents of Spring Valley, High Valley, Landrum Ranch and the Double Eagle Ranch east of Clearlake Oaks to return home, changing the mandatory evacuation to an advisory evacuation.
However, as of Thursday night, a mandatory evacuation remained in effect for areas in Lake County east of the Lake-Mendocino County line, south of the Lake-Mendocino-Glenn County Line, west of the Lake-Colusa County Line, and north of the fire perimeter and the Mendocino National Forest boundary, including Lake Pillsbury. The Northshore also remains under evacuation advisory.
Aircraft, 3,800 firefighters and more than 350 engines continue to work the Ranch fire, where on Thursday radio traffic indicated the fire remained active, with firefighters trying to address unburned vegetation within the fire perimeter as well as flare ups.
Cal Fire said crews are beginning suppression repair and mop up in the southern section of the fire. The fire crews worked to hold existing dozer lines and continued to add new dozer lines as a contingency plan.
The Mendocino National Forest reported that firefighters worked around structures in the Lake Pillsbury area in the fire’s northern section on Thursday, clearing and improving lines around the residences. Reinforcing the dozer line running from the Eel river northeast to south also continued Thursday.
Forest officials estimated the Ranch Fire to be approximately three miles from the southern border of Lake Pillsbury on Thursday.
Improved conditions also allowed the Mendocino National Forest to reopen its Upper Lake Ranger District office on Thursday. It had closed July 29 due to fire activity.
In the Berryessa Snow Mountain Wilderness, Cal Fire said very smoky conditions and steep topography have made it challenging to attack the fire front directly.
Cal Fire said crews on Thursday night will continue to look for ways to safely engage the fire.
On the Colusa County side, the Ranch fire has reached the outskirts of the community of Lodoga, but has not progressed closer to Stonyford to the north, and still remains about five miles from the Glenn County line, according to state mapping.
A mandatory evacuation remains in effect for western Colusa County, south of the Glenn-Colusa county line, east of the Lake-Colusa County line, north of Highway 20, and west of Bear Valley, Leesville Lodoga Road, Sites Lodoga Road and County Road 401.
An advisory evacuation for Glenn County also continues for the area north of the Glenn County-Colusa County Line, west of County Road 306, south of County Road 308 and east of the Mendocino National Forest Boundary.
On the River fire, crews continue to monitor the area. Cal Fire said containment lines are still holding, and crews are patrolling the area for any hot spots as well as beginning suppression repair and continuing mop up.
The estimated date for full containment remains Sept. 1, Cal Fire said.
In other fire-related news, the Lake County Public Works Department reported Thursday that Elk Mountain Road from the California Conservation Camp to Lake Pillsbury and Bartlett Springs Road from Highway 20 to the Lake County line will be closed to the public due to all the fire debris and danger of falling trees.
The department said the closure, which is in immediate effect, it will be long-term.
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