Cooler weather, firing operations help slow Mendocino Complex growth
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – More firing operations and cooler weather appear to be helping firefighters continue to slow the growth of the Ranch fire on the Mendocino Complex, which has continued to creep north through thousands of acres of national forest land.
The Mendocino Complex grew by just over 5,000 acres in a 24-hour period, rising to 415,685 acres, Cal Fire said Thursday evening. Containment remained unchanged at 74 percent.
The Ranch fire, the part of the complex that continues to burn, is at 366,765 acres and 67 percent containment, Cal Fire said. The River fire was contained last week at 48,920 acres.
Cal Fire said firefighters continue to build and reinforce containment lines and mop up in the northern portions of the Ranch fire.
Fire mapping shows the Ranch fire has continued to move north through the Mendocino National Forest.
It also has moved farther east into Glenn County, and by Thursday appeared to be about six miles southwest of Elk Creek, where a community meeting was scheduled on Thursday night.
Cal Fire said the Ranch fire has been moving north and northeast for the past several days, and will continue to do so at a lower rate of spread due to more favorable weather conditions.
Crews also are continuing firing operations on the northeastern portion of the fire area as weather conditions permit, Cal Fire said.
The U.S. Forest Service continues to hold unified command with Cal Fire on the incident.
Mendocino National Forest spokeswoman Punky Moore said that on Wednesday firing operations progressed in the area of Bloody Rock and Little Round Mountain. Engine crews and hand crews supported firing operations by patrolling containment lines, watching for spot fires and mopping-up hotspots.
Moore said this was a critical section of containment line necessary to stop the northern spread of the Ranch fire.
She explained that firing operations remove vegetation between the main fire and containment lines and reduce the chance of spot fires caused by floating embers crossing containment lines.
On Thursday, crews continued to patrol and improve containment lines where firing was conducted the previous night, mopping up where necessary, Moore said.
Engine crews also have continued patrolling the Rice Fork Summer Homes and Lake Pillsbury areas, which remain under a mandatory evacuation order, and are prepared to defend homes in Bonnie View/Happy Camp.
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.