Minimal Growth Overnight for the Mendocino Complex Fire, But a Red Flag Warning is in Effect for the Entire Area

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aptopix-california-wildfires-11

 

The Mendocino Complex Fire, composed of the Ranch Fire and River Fire, is now at over 304-thousand acres burned and 48 percent containment. According to Cal Fire, the largest fire in California history has destroyed 119 homes and damaged 12 others, destroyed 110 other structures and damaged 15 others. The fire is threatening 92-hundred structures in Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties. More than four-thousand fire personnel are fighting the blaze that began on July 27th. Many residents around Clear Lake, nearly 9-thousand people, were allowed to go home yesterday. A red flag warning has been issued for the area that the fires cover: from this afternoon thru Saturday night.

 

 

The Carr Fire burning in Shasta and Trinity counties is now at over 177-thousand acres and containment has reached 48 percent. According to Cal Fire totals released yesterday, destruction and damage totals remain unchanged, with one-thousand-77 homes destroyed, 191 damaged, 522 total structures destroyed and 91 others damaged. Nearly 530 structures are threatened. Over 47-hundred fire personnel continue to fight the fire that so far has killed at least seven people, including two firefighters.

 

 

Firefighters are battling a vegetation fire on Black Mountain near the Nicasio Reservoir. Officials say the Bridge Fire started at about 12:45 p.m. yesterday, two miles north of Nicasio and 10 miles from downtown Novato. The fire has burned at least 45 acres and was 50-percent contained as of last night. Police say the fire poses no threat to Novato and that about 100 fire personnel are on the scene.

 

A firefighter, who declined to give his name, rests while battling the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire, on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, near Lodoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

 

The president of the California Fire Chiefs Association is warning that this could be the worst fire season in state history. Mark A. Hartwig said yesterday the state is experiencing earlier, longer and more destructive fire seasons because of drought, climate change and more home construction in forests. Currently, there are approximately 14-thousand firefighters battling 18 major blazes statewide. Meanwhile, the cost of fighting wildfires has tripled from just over 240-million dollars in 2013 to over 770-million in the 2018 fiscal year that ended on June 30th.

 

 

Martin Lovrin, a Ranch fire evacuee, rests at a makeshift shelter on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, in Clearlake, Calif. Shortly after, Lovrin and other Lucerne residents received notice that they could return home as mandatory evacuations for their area became downgraded to an evacuation advisory. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)