Initial attack under way on fire in wilderness area

Print
THIS STORY WAS UPDATED AT 1:16 A.M.


MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST – Firefighters responded to a wildland fire in the Mendocino National Forest on Wednesday afternoon.


Dubbed the Summit Fire, the blaze was reported at around 1:30 p.m., according to Mendocino National Forest spokesperson Tamara Schmidt.


Schmidt said the fire is located near the Summit Springs trailhead on the southern edge of the Snow Mountain Wilderness in Colusa County,


At 4 p.m. Schmidt estimated the fire was between 15 and 20 acres in size, with multiple spot fires. By 5:30 p.m. the fire was reported to have grown to 40 acres.


“We're still in initial attack,” said Schmidt.


She said the fire had a slow rate of spread, despite the fact that winds were contributing to the spot fires.


Schmidt said the resources working the fire late Wednesday included one engine, one lead plane, three air tankers, one air attack, four hand crews, three helicopters and eight smokejumpers.


Because the fire is in a remote location, Schmidt said firefighters were having to hike in to it.


Firefighters were making good progress, Schmidt said.


Schmidt said a cause for the fire hasn't been reported.


Lake County News received reports from residents around Lake County who saw smoke from the fire on Wednesday afternoon.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .