How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex continued to add acreage overnight as it pushed further into the national forest and western Colusa County, and new damage totals showed another increase in structures lost in its path.
Cal Fire said the Mendocino Complex grew to 273,664 acres and 30-percent containment by Monday morning, an overall increase of nearly 6,700 acres overnight.
That breaks down as 225,001 acres and 21-percent containment for the Ranch fire and 48,663 acres and 58-percent containment for the River fire, according to Cal Fire.
The complex is now the second-largest wildland fire incident in California’s history, second only to the Thomas fire, which burned 281,893 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara in December.
Based on an updated damage assessment, Cal Fire said Monday morning that the complex has so far destroyed 143 buildings, specifically, 75 homes and 68 structures. Approximately 26 structures, 12 residents and 14 other types of building, have been damaged.
Cal Fire said the complex continues to threaten 9,300 structures.
Officials said the River Fire had limited movement overnight. A burnout operation conducted on the northern portion of the fire late Sunday afternoon improved containment. Firefighters are planning to work on burning out and tying in containment lines on Monday.
With containment up and firefighters making progress on the River fire, resources are being mobilized to help with the Ranch fire, according to Cal Fire.
The Ranch Fire continues to grow to the north and southeastern directions, threatening communities in its path, fire officials said.
Fire mapping shows it is continuing to move north toward Stonyford in Colusa County. Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 Operations Section Chief Charlie Blankenheim said Sunday that fire officials have plans for protecting Stonyford should it reach there, and have put in control lines to keep it out of that community.
Cal Fire said the terrain on the northern quarter of the Ranch Fire makes it challenging to access the fire front directly.
Late Sunday night, Kurt Jensen Jr., a Lake County News contributor, said he witnessed the fire burning actively off of High Valley Road above the community of Clearlake Oaks, while Lake County News staff in the area on Sunday evening said it did not appear to be active Sunday in areas of including Lucerne, Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks along Highway 20.
Cal Fire said many crews will be on the ground in the communities threatened by the fire, providing structure protection.
Resources that Cal Fire said are assigned to the Mendocino Complex as of Monday morning include 3,781 personnel, 432 engines, 89 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 57 hand crews and 80 dozers.
The target for full containment continues to be Aug. 15, Cal Fire said.
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