NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Mendocino National Forest officials on Wednesday said a lightning-sparked fire in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness has tripled in size.
The East fire on Wednesday was estimated to be up to 125 acres, the forest reported.
The fire is located 43 miles west of Red Bluff. It was reported by the Anthony Peak Lookout June 17 at 4 p.m.
Forest officials reported that they’ve chosen to use a confinement strategy in fighting the fire.
That strategy involves determining firefighter safety, access to the fire, its location, potential areas of concern, likely growth over time and current and forecast weather.
The designated confinement area is between East Ridge, Buck Ridge and Wrights Ridge.
Forest officials said their objectives include reducing exposure to firefighters, removing hazardous fuels, protecting wilderness characteristics and decreasing the probability for high severity wildfires in the future.
Approximately 100 resources are managing the East fire, including smokejumpers, hotshot crews and aircraft.
On Wednesday, fire crews plan to remove brush and reinforce the confinement area boundary along the East Ridge.
There is another wildfire southeast of the East fire called the Haynes fire. Several crews are taking actions to suppress this 10-acre fire. Crews report minimal activity on the Haynes fire.
In order to protect wilderness characteristics, crews are using minimum impact suppression tactics or MIST.
These tactics include using natural barriers, minimizing tree cutting, using aircraft and water drops to slow fire spread and constructing the minimum amount of fireline needed to maintain the confinement area.
The use of chain saws in the wilderness is authorized when necessary, officials said.
A cold front is forecast starting Wednesday evening through Thursday, with fire behavior expected to increase during that time, according to forest officials.
Lightning-sparked fire in Yolla Bolly Wilderness grows
- Lake County News reports
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