September 1, 2020 | 3:11 p.m. PDT
The massive August Complex of fires in northern California will soon exceed a quarter million acres. The Forest Service reported Tuesday morning the combined size of the fires had blackened 242,941 acres. Most of the completed fire line is on the east side, outside the Mendocino National Forest boundary, but there is also completed line on much of the south side of the Doe and Hull Fires.
The fires are southwest of Red Bluff and west of Corning, Orland, and Willows.
On Monday two large fires within the complex, the Glad and Tatham Fires, burned into and merged with the largest fire, the Doe Fire.
A firefighter was killed in a vehicle accident on the fire Monday, August 31.
There were strong northeast winds on the Complex in the middle of the day Monday which increased fire activity in the area. There is a potential for the same weather and fire behavior Tuesday.
The number of resources assigned to the fire include 11 hand crews, 3 camp crews, 7 helicopters, 51 engines, 18 dozers, 25 water tenders, and 3 masticators for a total of 690 personnel. Considering the size, those numbers are not large.