Firefighters monitor a backfire while battling the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire, on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, near Ladoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
The Mendocino Complex Fire (the Ranch Fire and River Fire) is now at just over 300-thousand acres burned and 63 percent containment.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jonathan Cox speaks to the firefighter that have been injured fighting both the Mendocino Complex Fire and the Carr Fire, how they estimate when containment should be achieved, the weather conditions that have made it that much more difficult to end these fires, how the reduction in visibility because of the smoke has somewhat limited the number of planes that can drop water and fire retardant, the rotation for the firefighters so they can rest and recharge their energy, and the number of firefighters working on the Mendocino Complex Fire,
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeremy Rahn says steep terrain in the Mendocino National Forest is making it difficult for firefighters to get to the flames on the north side of the blaze. The Ranch and River fires have destroyed 75 homes and damaged 12 others, destroyed 68 other structures and damaged 14 others. The fire is still threatening around ten-thousand-300 structures as it burns across Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties. Over four-thousand fire personnel are battling the blaze that has injured two firefighters.
The Carr Fire burning in Shasta and Trinity counties is now at over 173-thousand acres and containment remains at 47 percent. According to Cal Fire totals released yesterday, the blaze has destroyed one-thousand-77 homes and damaged another 191, destroyed 522 total structures and damaged 91 others. The fire is now threatening a total of 937 structures. Well over four-thousand-700 fire personnel are battling the wildfire that has killed at least seven people, including two firefighters.
