The Mendocino Complex Fire (Ranch Fire, River Fire) is now more than half contained. Cal Fire says they’ve reached 53-percent containment and full containment is projected for September 1st. Officials say the fire has burned over 307-thousand acres as of this morning. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says it will take several weeks to fully surround the fire, because it’s burning on steep terrain that’s hard to reach.
The Carr Fire burning in Shasta and Trinity counties is now over 181-thousand acres and containment is up to 51 percent. Cal Fire totals released indicate no change in the total number of homes and structures destroyed and damaged, with one-thousand-77 homes destroyed, 191 damaged, 522 total structures destroyed and 91 others damaged. An eighth person was killed when a Cal Fire heavy equipment mechanic died yesterday morning in a traffic accident on Highway 99 in Tehama County.
Cal Fire also reports a heavy equipment operator was killed in a crash while fighting the massive blaze near Redding yesterday. This is the third firefighter who has died fighting the Carr Fire. Five others, including a woman and her two great-grandchildren, have also died. The Carr Fire is now 51-percent contained.