NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Portions of the Mendocino National Forest remain closed to the public as firefighters continue to work on a 200,000-acre complex of lightning-caused fires.
The August Complex, burning since Aug. 17, reached 200,465 acres and remained at 17 percent containment on Wednesday night, the US Forest Service reported.
Resources assigned include 577 firefighters and 154 overhead personnel, 12 crews, 41 engines, eight dozers, 23 water tenders and three helicopters, the Forest Service said.
Officials said Wednesday that firefighters are opening preexisting fire breaks as control lines on the south portion of the Doe fire, the largest of the fires on the complex at 162,326 acres and 31-percent containment. Structure protection is continuing when safe.
On the Glade fire, at 19,684 acres and zero-percent containment, line construction is continuing while on the Tatham fire, 8,958 acres 11-percent contained, firefighters are working in coordination with Crane Mills Timber and using dozers to tie in the fire’s north portion and working with Cal Fire on the fire’s eastern flank.
Those fires – and dozens of smaller ones – are located on the forest’s Grindstone Ranger District in Glenn County.
The Hull fire, on the Upper Lake Ranger District, was added to the complex earlier this week. It’s now at 4,885 acres and 5-percent contained, the Forest Service said.
Located five miles north of Lake Pillsbury, the Hull fire led to an evacuation warning earlier this week that remains active for the Pillsbury Ranch area.
Forest officials also reported on Wednesday that Forest Closure Order No. 08-20-10, which was issued on Aug. 21, remains in effect.
“The Mendocino National Forest is not safe to enter in the closure areas due to the complexity of the fire and the constant traffic from the fire crews, engines and other large pieces of equipment,” explained a statement issued by forest management on Wednesday. “Once it is deemed safe, the Mendocino National Forest will issue permission letters to property owners to enter the forest to retrieve their belongings or check on their properties.”
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August Complex tops 200,000 acres; portions of National Forest remain closed
- Elizabeth Larson
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