[UPDATE 11:18 a.m.: Hwy 20 Reopens] Mendocino Complex Is Now Over 300,000 Acres
According to the Northern Geographic Coordination Center, “Damage assessments have found 115 residences, 105 minor structures, and 1 multiple residences destroyed. Damage assessment is continuing. Approximately 12,000 civilians are under evacuation orders and 6,000 civilians are under evacuation advisory.”
For more information on evacuations and road closures, go to the InciWeb site.
The Plan:
The Ranch Fire continues to grow but mostly to the north. Look for spread in the east-west drainages. To the east, thick smoke will keep temperatures lower early in the day but by evening expect an increase in fire activity. Firefighters are especially worried about long range spotting. They are also worried about the fire slopping over lines along the southern edges of the fire in the early evening.
Firefighters have pushed containment on the River Fire to 81%. There was no overnight growth on the fire. Everyone is cautiously optimistic for this fire to lay down and behave. But there is potential spotting for the east/west drainages and along ridgetops, according to Cal Fire.
The Weather:
The weather is expected to get drier and warmer over the next few days. Winds will be light but will pick up in the late afternoon and evening.
The National Weather Service in Eureka posted this video that shows the predicted smoke patterns for today.
The Roads:
Hwy 20 is still closed. There are some detours available.
Many smaller roads are closed, too. Check Cal Fire for the latest but be aware that conditions are changing fast on the frontlines.
UPDATE 11:18 a.m.: Hwy 20 Reopens
The MAPS:
- Fire Progression Maps: [NOTE: These only show until August 6 at 11:38 p.m.]
- Mendocino Complex Operations Map –to see details either zoom or click on the map and download a pdf.
DONATIONS:
Redwoods Rural Health Center in Redway is a Pay It Forward donation center. Call and ask first what they are accepting.
UPDATE 11:18 a.m.: Hwy 20 Reopens
Earlier Chapters:
- Mandatory Evacuations for River Fire 4000 Acres / Ranch Fire Grown to 1000 Acres
- Thousands Without Electricity in Lake and Mendocino County as Major Wildfires Rage
- Mendocino Complex Devours Almost 25,000 Acres (Maps, Photos)
- Hwy 20 Closed as Ranch Fire Runs Out of Control
- More Evacuations as Both Fires of the Mendocino Complex Plow Deeper Into Lake County
- The Two Fiery Claws of the Mendocino Complex Squeeze Clear Lake and Its Communities (Maps, Photos)
- Kelseyville and Finley Area Ordered to Immediately Evacuate as River Fire Rushes Southeast
- The Mendocino Complex: Nearly 75,000 Acres Burned, 12% Contained [Maps, Photos]
- The Mendocino Complex: Still Burning Hot and Fast
- Mendocino County Fights Back Onslaught of Fires, But the Complex Grew Almost 20,000 Acres Yesterday
- The Mendocino Complex: Maps, Photos, Videos
- SR 175 Reopened in Lake County as River Fire Heads North
- Mendocino Complex Grew Around 50,000 Acres Yesterday [Maps, Photos]
- Marijuana Growers Arrested After Choosing to Water Plants Rather Than Evacuate, Says Lake County Sheriff’s Office
- Massive Mendocino Complex Now Fifth Largest in California History as It Jumps to Over 250,000 Acres [Maps, Videos, Photos]
- The Mendocino Complex Rolls Through New Land (Maps, Photos)
- Mendocino Complex Grows to 290,000 Acres Making It the Largest Fire in Modern California History [Maps]
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Is that 115 homes destroyed last night or so far total?
Total, so far.
Remember, fire is a natural element in California forests, Natural fires naturally burned every 25-50 years routinely, this was untill the forest was only looked at for $$. When timber companies thought they were losing “timber”, they began putting out these small fires disrupting the natural cycle which built up the fuel loads of these forests resulting in these mega fires we see today. Looking through and researching old fires in the UC California Berkely paperwork we see a 800 acre fire in the 1920s as huge and devastating. There were no 300,000 acre fires. The fire fighting technology was almost nonexistant, no bombers, helicopters or 747’s, just hand crews, yet they put these fires out because there was atmospheric humidity and cooler temperatures feok the Redwood Belt left standing. Changes need to happen and they need to happen quickly. Nobody istalking about they why, many are in complete awe, including long term career firefighters.
Hwy 36 through the construction zone is not for small vehicles or RV’s. Maybe in the evening when they are done but when I went through twice yesterday when they were working if you had anything under 6 inches of ground clearance you left car parts. Thank you firefighters! Everyone stay safe!
I don’t see the link for the smoke pattern video…
Instead of clicking the play button, you have to click on the F icon in the bottom right corner. It should load and play for you then 🌞
Lets not forget these huge fires are happening because of poor Forest Practices and Calfire constantly putting out every small fire and not practicing controlled burns. This could have been prevented.
Lets not forget that Mendocino County is especially drier in the last 10 years as a result of Mendocino Redwood Company spraying with toxic herbicide and killing over 400,000 acres of Tanoaks which are known to increase atmospheric humidity for inland valleys and hills. The fogs and humidity these trees produce in the summer create nighttime forest drip. They literally deforested the redwood belt leading to zero humidity and increased fire risk inland, as the air flow moves from the Coast Inland this air brings moisture to inland douglas for forests and oak wildlands, all this in the name of having a single species forest of Redwoods to increase their greedy pocketa… Lets not forget the Tan Oak was heavily forested along our Redwood Belts and the tanoak produced all the food for Bear and many other forest critters. California is burning down as a result of killing thousands of acres of humidity producing tan oaks. We need to put an immediate stop to herbicide spraying!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Mendo Historian – I agree. Although I’m from Michigan, I’m an ecologist who has studied natural plant communities across North America, and the world to some extent. Misguided vegetative management is to blame for so much, especially the suppression of natural fire regimes. Of course, increasing human occupation of wild lands has made fire much more of an issue in recent decades, and I can’t blame people for trying to defend their homes. But, the balance needs to start tipping toward sensible natural management, otherwise, nature tends to take control as it has with this fire complex. Bill Collins, Manager and Ecologist, Huron Ecologic
The fires from space
https://www.space.com/41396-california-fires-astronaut-photos-space-station.html