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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Mendocino Complex continues to burn through thousands of acres of wildland, but in some portions of the impacted areas of Lake County the situation had improved enough by Tuesday morning to allow evacuees to begin returning home.
The complex’s overall size rose by nearly 7,000 acres overnight, reaching 290,692 acres by Tuesday morning, with containment at 34 percent.
On Monday night, the Mendocino Complex became the largest wildland fire incident in California history, as Lake County News has reported.
Cal Fire said Tuesday that the complex isn’t expected to be fully contained until Sept. 1, two weeks later than previously anticipated.
Most of the acreage increase in the complex continues to take place on the Ranch fire, which Cal Fires said on Tuesday morning was up to 241,772 acres – a 6,700-acre increase overnight – with containment rolled back to 20 percent.
The River fire is at 48,920 acres – up 120 acres from Monday night – with containment up to 78 percent, Cal Fire said.
So far, one firefighter has been injured, according to Cal Fire report.
Improved conditions on the River fire and on the west end of the Ranch fire led to officials allowing the residents of Blue Lakes, Bachelor Valley, Witter Springs, Saratoga Springs and Scotts Valley Road to return home on Tuesday morning.However, thousands of structures remain threatened, Cal Fire said Tuesday. The damage assessment totals remain at 143 structure destroyed and 26 damaged.
Cal Fire said the Ranch fire continued to burn actively overnight, expanding farther to the north and east.
The fire has continued to challenge crews because of limited access, heavy fuel loads in the wildland, low fuel moisture and high temperatures, Cal Fire said.
On Tuesday fire resources are continuing to be deployed to all areas of the Ranch fire perimeter, according to Cal Fire’s morning report.
On the River fire, Cal Fire said crews have continued to increase containment and are working to tie in the remaining containment lines to Scotts Valley Road.
Cal Fire said 3,908 firefighting personnel, 441 engines, 93 water tenders, 15 helicopters, 62 hand crews and 85 dozers are assigned to the incident as of Tuesday morning.
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