Forest officials report Summit Fire contained

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SNOW MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS – A 350-acre fire that began burning in the Snow Mountain Wilderness on Wednesday afternoon was fully contained Friday evening.


The Summit Fire was located in the southeastern portion of the Snow Mountain Wilderness on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest.


It burned in steep and rugged terrain with brush and scattered timber one mile from the Summit Springs Trailhead, approximately 25 miles west of Stonyford.


Mendocino National Forest spokesperson Tamara Schmidt said firefighters made “excellent” progress on Friday and the fire was declared at 6 p.m. that day.


She said resources will now focus on mop-up and work towards the next stage, which is control of the fire. The expected control date is Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.


The remote terrain required the use of air resources and smokejumpers, with firefighters having to hike in to the scene, as Lake County News reported earlier this week.


Approximately 346 firefighters were assigned to the blaze. Schmidt said total resources on the scene Friday included 13 crews and four helicopters.


Schmidt said it's highly recommended that the public refrain from traveling or hiking in the fire area. Trailheads in close proximity of the fire are posted.


Forest Road M10 is closed to westbound traffic from Davis Flat until further notice, Schmidt said.


With the exception of the Summit Fire, so far this year the Mendocino National Forest has not had an active fire season compared to neighboring forests, Schmidt said.


She reported that last Thursday and Friday four lightning fires were spotted on the east side of the Mendocino National Forest and one fire on the west side. All of the fires were contained while fairly small.


Schmidt said the largest of those blazes was the Government Fire, which grew to seven acres near Government Flat. It was reported Thursday evening, contained Friday and controlled Sunday at 6 p.m.


She said engine crews from the Mendocino National Forest, as well as two handcrews from a nearby Cal Fire station, provided initial attack on the Government Fire.


Additional resources from the Cleveland National Forest, San Bernardino National Forest, Arkansas and Mississippi were instrumental in assisting fire suppression efforts on the Mendocino National Forest last weekend, Schmidt said.


Due to dry conditions, the Mendocino National Forest is currently under fire restrictions to help reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires on the Forest, she said.


For more information regarding the current fire restrictions, contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino .