New Evacuation Orders Issued as the Ranch Fire Races East on the Mendocino Complex

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This simulation shows the Ranch Fire progressing from the start on July 27 until early on August 19 as a tentacle snakes out and heads towards the east.

Like a hydra, the monstrous Mendocino Complex refuses to die. Yesterday, the head raced towards the east forcing new evacuations in Glenn County. This weekend’s high temperatures and near single-digit humidity in the afternoons fed the flames.

The total acreage for the complex is now just under 400,000 acres. It is 398,862. The containment is 79%.

For more information on evacuations and road closures, click here or see the evacuation map below.

The Plan:

Twenty-three foreign officials visited the Mendocino Complex Incident Command Post in Ukiah on Sat. 8-18 as part of the USFS International Assistance Program.

Twenty-three foreign officials visited the Mendocino Complex Incident Command Post in Ukiah on Sat. 8-18 as part of the USFS International Assistance Program. [Image and caption from InciWeb]

The Ranch Fire plunged to the east yesterday forcing new mandatory evacuations late last night in Glenn County. According to the notice issued, “The evacuation order includes all areas: North of Glenn-Colusa County Line, east of the Mendocino National Forest boundary, south of County Road 308, and west of County Road 306.”
According to Cal Fire,
Overnight the Ranch Fire continued to burn actively with increased fire behavior in the north and northeastern portions of the fire
area. …As westerly winds increase in the day, the fire will increase rate of spread to the east as it enters east/west aligned drainages. The warming and drying trend will continue with near single digit afternoon relative humidity.

No growth is expected now in the south half of the fire.

The River Fire is now completely contained. Total acreage on the fire is 48,920.

The Weather:  

 

The smoke is lighter this morning over Clear Lake. [Image from here]

As the sun rises, the smoke hides the distant head of the Mendocino Complex which is making a run to the east. [Image from here]

The weather is still predicted to be hot and dry. However, firefighters are hopeful that a cooling trend this week will be helpful. Especially as winds are expected to be light during the afternoon.

The Roads:

All major roads are open throughout the Mendocino Complex.  However, many smaller roads are closed so check Cal Fire for the latest.

The MAPS:

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Marilyn Townsend
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Marilyn Townsend
5 years ago

simulation mentioned in caption doesn’t show up? thanks for your continuing updates–often the best source for exactly what’s happening where

hmm
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hmm
5 years ago

I wonder how often these dry grasslands should be burned in order to keep the invasive grasses from creating massive fires.

https://www.kqed.org/perspectives/201007090735/how-our-hills-got-golden

Ice
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Ice
5 years ago
Reply to  hmm

The North side of this fire is in forest fuels, not grassy areas. One “silver lining” of this fire is that it may burn up a lot of Sudden Oak death infected areas.

wildman
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wildman
5 years ago
Reply to  Ice

East of Snow Mt and St Johns there is a fair amount of bark beetle kill. This is a serious concern for fire containment.

wildman
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wildman
5 years ago

Its eating up some really beautiful country. Hopefully a good portion of the older growth in the Snow Mt wilderness area will survive unlike the complete burn around Clear Lake when triple digits and high wind torched everything in its path.

Lost Croat Outburst
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Lost Croat Outburst
5 years ago

What’s with the USFS International Assistance Program? I thought America didn’t need any friends, you know, just like nobody needs any friends like our luminary President Trump has said? Why are other countries sending firefighters halfway around the world as a gesture of friendship to the USA? Don’t they read the papers? What would Jesus do? That friggin’ Obama.