North part of Mendocino Complex of Fires was very active Wednesday

Late in the day the Ranch Fire ran for at least five miles to the southeast

The northernmost of the two fires in the Mendocino Complex east of Ukiah, California, the Ranch Fire, was very active late in the day on Wednesday, running for at least five miles to the southeast according to the very reliable information from a mapping aircraft at 11:10 p.m. August 1. It is possible it may have spread for an additional three miles three to five hours later, but the data from the later overflights by the MODIS and VIIRS satellites could have been detecting heat and debris in a powerful convection column, rather than fire on the ground. All of the significant activity on the Ranch Fire Wednesday was on the northeast and east sides.

map Mendocino Complex River Fire Ranch fire
Map showing the perimeter, in red, of the Mendocino Complex of Fires at 11:10 p.m. MDT, August 1, 2018. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before. The red shaded areas represent intense heat. Click to enlarge.

With the expansion of the Ranch Fire it is now about three to five miles northeast of the community of Nice and four to seven miles northeast of Lucerne; both of these communities are on the east shore of Clear Lake.

To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Mendocino Complex of Fires, including the most recent, click HERE.

Apparently firefighters on the River Fire have been very successful on the south and east flanks, with those locations showing little to no growth Wednesday in the Lakeport and Finley areas. The north side, however, was quite active, spreading north for about a half mile across the north perimeter.

CAL FIRE reports that 14 residences have been destroyed. The two fires have burned a total of 110,168 acres — 74,890 on the Ranch Fire and 35,278 on the River Fire, according to the numbers released by CAL FIRE Thursday morning.

Mendocino Complex of Fires spreads closer to Lakeport

There are media reports that homes were destroyed Tuesday afternoon northwest of Lakeport

ABOVE: Map showing the perimeter, in red, of the east side of the River Fire (part of the Mendocino Complex of Fires) at 11:46 p.m. PDT July 31, 2018. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before.

(Originally published at 10 a.m. PDT August 1, 2018)

Tuesday afternoon winds pushed the two blazes that comprise the Mendocino Complex of Fires farther east, both spreading for at least a mile. The Ranch Fire moved into sparsely populated areas, but the River Fire ran through an area with scattered ranches northwest of Lakeport, California. Media personnel on scene said the fire was especially intense near Dessie Drive and Hendricks Road. CAL FIRE said Wednesday morning that a total of 10 residences have been destroyed in the two fires, but it is not clear if that number includes what could be additional losses late in the day on Tuesday.

To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Mendocino Complex of Fires, including the most recent, click HERE.

Firefighters were extremely busy Tuesday in that wildland-urban interface as the fire raced through the populated areas. They were protecting structures, then getting chased out by flames, and reestablishing a defense at another structure.

Mendocino Complex fires map
Map showing the perimeter, in red, of the Mendocino Complex of Fires at 11:46 p.m. PDT July 31, 2018. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours before.

Both fires started in Mendocino County but burned into Lake County. The Ranch Fire is now also well established in the Mendocino National Forest.

According to the numbers CAL FIRE released Wednesday morning, the two fires have burned 90,912 acres; 59,019 on the Ranch Fire, and 31,898 on the River Fire.

As usual, Kent Porter got some fabulous shots of the River Fire Tuesday:

Below, a CAL FIRE Battalion Chief explains how they fight fires when you don’t have enough resources. Basically, you protect lives and private property first, then as time and resources permit, deal with the part of the fire that is burning in remote areas.

Firefighters on the Mendocino Complex battle to protect structures around Clear Lake

The fires are threatening 10,200 structures near Upper Lake and Lakeport, California

Above: Map of the Mendocino Complex of Fires. The red line was the perimeter at 9 p.m. PDT July 30, 2018. The white line was the perimeter about 24 hours earlier. The red shaded areas represent intense heat.

(Originally published at 5:02 a.m. PDT July 31, 2018)

Firefighters working on the two wildfires in the Mendocino Complex of Fires near Clear Lake east of Ukiah, California are not only battling two fires spreading aggressively near populated areas, they are also competing with numerous other large fires in California and the rest of the United States. With 140 large fires burning, every one needs resources, and not all incident commanders are receiving the numbers of crews, engines, dozers, air tankers, helicopters, and overhead personnel that they have requested.

Of the 25,632 firefighters that have been mobilized in the U.S., the 68,000-acre Mendocino Complex, comprised of the Ranch and River Fires, has obtained almost 2,000 personnel, including 205 fire engines, 38 hand crews, 12 helicopters, 45 dozers, and 43 water tenders.

map Mendocino Complex Fires
3-D map of the Mendocino Complex of Fires. The red line was the perimeter at 9 p.m. PDT July 30, 2018. The red shaded areas represent intense heat at that time.

Seven residences have been destroyed on the two fires and another 12,200 remain threatened.

The Ranch Fire, just north of Upper Lake, has burned about 45,000 acres. So far firefighters have kept it out of the main part of the community and mostly west of Middle Creek near the town. There has been one slop over south of Highway 20 three miles west of the Highway 20/29 intersection.

The 23,000-acre River Fire turned southeast Monday, skirting around Lakeport and Finley as it burned across Highway 175.

Ranch and River Fires burn thousands of acres in Mendocino County

Both fires are about 8 miles from Ukiah, California

Above: firefighters on the Mendocino Complex of Fires July 27, 2018. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office photo.

(Originally published at 10:20 a.m. PDT July 28, 2018)

Two fires that started at around noon on July 27 have burned thousands of acres in Mendocino County, California.

The Ranch Fire, northeast of Ukiah just off Highway 20, has burned about 3,500 acres and one outbuilding near Potter Valley.

(To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Mendocino Complex of Fire, click HERE.)

The River Fire southeast of Ukiah has burned about 6,000 acres and one residence.

Mendocino Complex of Fires
Map showing heat detected on the Ranch and River Fires at 3:31 a.m. PDT July 28, 2018. Click to enlarge.

These fires are being managed together as part of the Mendocino Complex of Fires.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s office has ordered mandatory evacuations.

Mendocino Complex of Fires
The Mendocino Complex of Fires July 27, 2018. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office photo.