A U.S. Air Force plane drops fire retardant on a burning hillside in the Ranch Fire in Clearlake Oaks, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson)
Wildfires continue to burn out of control across California. Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Office of Emergency Services, says the firefight has become an international effort.
The Mendocino Complex Fire is now the second largest fire in California history. The two fires making up the Mendocino Complex, the River Fire and Ranch Fire, have burned over 273-thousand acres combined and firefighters have reached 40% containment. Right now, it’s the most serious of 17 major fires burning in the state, threatening some 15-thousand buildings. Meanwhile, the Carr Fire has claimed its seventh victim. PG&E says a Santa Rosa crew member was killed Sunday near Redding doing repair work in a remote wilderness area. He’s being identified as 21-year old Jarus Ayeeta.
As of this morning, the Carr Fire stands at just over 160-thousand acres scorched with 43% containment.
Governor Jerry Brown says the fire situation isn’t going to improve anytime soon.
Fire officials are also asking Sonoma County residents to cut their grass in the morning after a small grass fire. Officials say firefighters quickly extinguished the quarter-acre fire Saturday on Rincon Avenue. Santa Rosa Fire says the person mowing the field started the fire and it was out in 15-minutes. Officials are urging residents to cut their grass earlier in the day when the temperatures are lower and humidity levels are higher.