Mendocino Complex Fire 52% contained, full containment not expected until September

MENDOCINO/LAKE/COLUSA/GLENN COUNTY, Calif. (KIEM) – The Mendocino Complex Fire is just over halfway contained as of Thursday night.

This is especially good news for the Ranch Fire, which is the much larger of the two fires that make up the complex. That fire is 49% contained as of Thursday, up considerably from earlier this week.

The Ranch Fire makes up 256,232 acres of the altogether 305,152 acre complex. Full containment is not expected until September 1.

Together, they’ve destroyed 119 homes, and still over 9,000 structures are threatened.

3,826 fire personnel are on scene of the Mendocino Complex Fire this Thursday night, and numerous air tankers from all around the Western United States have been flying as conditions allow.

The River Fire continues to be monitored. Containment lines are still holding and crews are patrolling the area for any hot spots.

Crews are beginning suppression repair and continue to mop up the burned areas.

Cal Fire describes their current situation Thursday night, as this:

“The Ranch Fire fire crews are beginning suppression repair and mop up in the southern section of the fire. The fire crews worked to hold existing dozer lines and continue to add new dozer lines as a contingency plan. In the northern section fire crews are prepping structures and looking for opportunities to go direct on the fire. In the Snow Mountain Wilderness very smoky conditions and steep topography make it challenging to attack the fire front directly. Tonight crews will continue their objectives to searching for viable opportunities to safely engage the fire.”

For information on mandatory evacuations, click here.