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Mendocino Complex of Fires spreads closer to Lakeport

Bill GabbertAugust 1, 2018August 25, 2019UncategorizedCalifornia, Mendocino Complex, pyrocumulus, Ranch Fire, River Fire

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:

The #Riverfire blew in to Scotts Valley Tuesday off of Cow Mountain devouring structures on its way. A Pyrocumulus cloud also developed from the #Ranchfire as helicopters were used in the fight on the River. @NorthBayNews pic.twitter.com/zrr5x5I8k2

— Kent Porter (@kentphotos) August 1, 2018

Just disengaged from the #mendocinocomplex to take a breather in deserted Lakeport. Some of the most intense wildland urban interface firefighting I’ve seen in 100 fires. Fire behavior I saw today is terrifying, there is little to stop it other than fire front following.

— Stuart Palley (@stuartpalley) August 1, 2018

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.

Limited Resources, Unlimited Fire. CAL FIRE Makes Compromises. #MendocinoComplex https://t.co/IeMXmr9lAz

— Wilson Walker (@WilsonKPIX) August 1, 2018

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

Bill GabbertJuly 31, 2018July 31, 2018UncategorizedCalifornia, Mendocino Complex, Ranch Fire, River Fire1 Comment

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.