LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As it entered its fourth week, the Mendocino Complex’s acreage increased again, thanks in part due to continuing firing operations that also have helped to slow its dramatic march through thousands of acres of forest lands.
Cal Fire said Friday evening that the Mendocino Complex’s size has grown to 424,419 acres – an increase of nearly 9,000 acres over the previous 24 hours – with containment inching up a few percentage points to 76 percent.
The acreage gain is only taking place on the Ranch fire portion of the complex, which is now up to 375,499 acres and 67 percent containment, Cal Fire said. The River fire was fully contained last week at 48,920 acres.
The two fires began within an hour of each other on July 27 in Mendocino County before spreading into Lake County, and eventually pushing east into Colusa and Glenn counties.
A large firefighting force remains in place on the complex. On Friday evening, 3,524 firefighting personnel remained assigned, along with 210 engines, 86 water tenders, 21 helicopters, 82 hand crews and 68 dozers.
The Mendocino Complex continued to be managed by the United States Department of
Agriculture Forest Service and Cal Fire under a unified command. California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 is managing the western zone of the Ranch fire, while Cal Fire Incident Management Team 2 is overseeing the eastern zone of the Ranch fire.
Officials continue to expect it to be fully contained at Sept. 1.
The Friday evening report said firing operations are continuing on the fire’s northeastern areas throughout the night as conditions permit. Fire mapping showed that much of the recent growth on the northeastern portion appeared to be in western side of Glenn County.
A report from the Mendocino National Forest said firing operations will continue for the next several days as crews work to contain the fire. Increased smoke from this operation is likely to be visible to residents east of the fire and travelers along the I-5 corridor.
Very large air tankers – known more commonly as VLATs – are supporting firefighters with retardant drops to strengthen containment lines, forest officials reported.
On the northwestern portion of the fire in Lake and Mendocino counties, crews are continuing to make good progress, including building and reinforcing containment lines and mopping up.

In the areas of Bloody Rock and Little Round Mountain – located north and south, respectively, of Lake Pillsbury on the Lake County portion of the forest – crews have been mopping up hot spots, according to the Mendocino National Forest statement.
That report said felling teams with chainsaws have been cutting down hazardous trees to make conditions safer for crews working in the burned area, chipping crews removed vegetation that was cut to widen containment lines and firing operations on the fire’s northern flank were completed.
Firefighters have been mopping up hot spots in the Pine Mountain area southwest of Lake Pillsbury, and engine crews have continued patrolling the Rice Fork Summer Homes and Lake Pillsbury areas, forest officials said.
On Friday officials reduced a mandatory evacuation order to advisory for all areas south of County Road 301C and Forest Road M10, east of the Mendocino National Forest western boundary, west of the Lake County line and north of the Mendocino National Forest most southern boundary.
However, all roads and areas within the boundary of the Mendocino National Forest remain closed to the general public as part of the current Ranch Fire Forest Closure Order No.
08-18-14, officials said.
Landowners only will be allowed access to their property with proof of ownership. Landowners must obtain an access permit from the Mendocino National Forest, Upper Lake Ranger District, 10025 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake, telephone 707-275-2361 in order to legally enter the Ranch Fire Forest Closure Area and access their property.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
