(Originally published at 12:13 p.m. PDT August 13, 2018.)
A few days ago the 295,970-acre Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex of Fires east of Ukiah, California, became the largest wildfire in the recorded history of the state. It blew past the previous record set by last December’s Thomas Fire near Santa Barbara, exceeding it now by about 14,000 acres.
But the fire is not resting on its achievements — in recent days it has been very active on its north side where it has spread practically unfettered one to two miles farther north over the last seven days, approaching Lake Pillsbury.
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Mendocino Complex of Fires, including the most recent, click HERE.)
The mapping flight Sunday night did not show any major fire activity on the rest of the fire, or on any of the perimeter of the other fire in the Complex, the River Fire west of Clear Lake.
CAL FIRE reports that 147 residences have been destroyed in the two fires and another 1,025 remain threatened.
A very large army of firefighters are still battling the two fires, including 256 fire engines, 58 fire crews, 20 helicopters, 76 dozers, and 79 water tenders, for a total of 3,221 personnel.
CAL FIRE’s information about the Ranch Fire on August 13 included this:
I need to learn how they do that.
