NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Mendocino National Forest officials said growth is slowing on the lightning-caused East fire burning in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness.

As of late Friday morning, the East fire had burned 200 acres with little growth reported.

To the southeast, the Haynes fire is estimated at 23 acres and 80 percent contained, officials said.

The fires started June 17 approximately 23 miles northeast of Covelo in Trinity County.

Forest officials said there are 145 personnel working on these fires including smokejumpers, hotshot crews, wildland fire modules, helicopters and support personnel.

On the East fire, crews will continue to reinforce a designated confinement area between East Ridge, Buck Ridge and Wrights Ridge as the fire moves southward. Officials said crews on the Haynes fire plan to extinguish burning logs and vegetation near the containment lines.

During the Friday morning briefing, Agency Administrator Frank Aebly thanked the crews for protecting wilderness values and having a light impact on the land while they work on the two fires.

Crews are using minimum impact suppression tactics or MIST such as using natural barriers where possible, moving or rolling material out of the intended confinement area, reducing the amount of trees cut and minimizing fireline construction.

The weather forecast for Friday into Saturday includes a red flag warning with strong winds for the northern Sacramento Valley below 2,000 feet.

The gusty winds in the valley are not expected to occur on the East and Haynes fires during this wind event.

For the fire area, the weather forecast shows temperatures in the mid-60s with north winds from 11 to 18 miles per hour.

Wilderness hikers are asked to avoid travel near Buck Ridge and Wrights Ridge.

Maps and photos are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6394/ .