Containment grows in deadly Mendocino Complex fires

The Mendocino Complex fires have now burned 370,294 acres, continuing a ruinous march in the Mendocino National Forest and threatening communities north of its perimeter, Cal Fire said.

The Ranch fire, the larger of the two blazes that constitute the Mendocino Complex fires, grew just over 6,000 acres during a 24-hour period ending Thursday evening, while the containment perimeter increased from 67 to 72 percent, Cal Fire said.

The fire is burning in the Snow Mountain Wilderness and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, the U.S. Forest Service said.

As of Thursday morning, the Ranch fire had consumed 197,775 acres in the national forest, the agency said.

Cal Fire said personnel built firebreaks to connect existing containment lines, with a focus on areas north of the Snow Mountain Wilderness. The nearly 49,000-acre River fire has been completely contained for several days.

The Mendocino Complex fires still threaten 1,205 homes, though no additional structures were reportedly damaged or destroyed Wednesday, officials said.

The fires have destroyed ?147 homes and 118 other structures.

Matthew Burchett, 42, a battalion chief with the Draper Fire Department near Salt Lake City, was struck Monday by a falling tree while fighting the Ranch fire. He later died at a local hospital.

Two other firefighters have been injured battling the blazes, Cal Fire said.

Total containment on the Ranch fire, the largest in state history, is expected Sept. 1.

While positive gains have been made in the last few days, weather conditions forecast for the weekend prompted concern as crews continue to battle the fire in steep, rugged terrain, Cal Fire Capt. Cary Wright said.

“The weather we’re going to have will be better for the fire, not for the firefighters,” he said.

“We’ll probably see increased fire activity, and activity early in the day, as temperatures go up and humidity goes down.”

On Thursday, Lake County sheriff’s officials lifted the mandatory evacuation order for residents on Bartlett Springs Road living north of Highway 20 to the Mendocino National Forest boundary.

Those residents are now under an evacuation advisory.

In Mendocino County, evacuation orders were reduced to advisory for residents with driveway access south of 16000 Mid Mountain Road, north of Pine Avenue and west of the Mendocino National Forest and east of eastside Potter Valley Road.

Also, mandatory evacuation orders were reduced to advisories in areas of Colusa County, Cal Fire said.

Staff Writer Martin Espinoza contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Hannah Beausang at 707-521-5214 or hannah.beausang@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @hannahbeausang.