Largest Wildfire In CA History Nearing 400,000 Acres

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Although firefighters are making progress on the Mendocino Complex Fire — the largest wildfire in California History — Cal Fire continued Monday urging residents of mandatory evacuation zones to heed the orders, not only for their own safety but that of fire crews working in the area.

Some 1,050 homes and other structures were still threatened Monday by the 349,942-acre Ranch Fire, which together with the smaller 48,920-acre River Fire make up the 398,862-acre Mendo Complex Fire. Thus far, the blazes have affected four Northern California counties, Mendocino, Lake, Colusa and Glenn, leaving 291 structures destroyed or damaged.

Monday morning, the Mendo Complex Fire was 79-percent contained.

The newest mandatory evacuation orders were issued late Sunday night for Glenn County residents west of County Road 306 to the Lake County line, south to the Colusa County line and north to Forest Road 20N07 also known as County Road 308.

"We are going to be doing burn operations in that general vicinity today; the fire is definitely progressing that way," Cal Fire Spokesman Paul Grenier told Patch.

Because many evacuation orders come ahead of time, residents should be ready to go, Grenier said.

"We implore people to comply with the orders," he said.

Overnight, the Ranch Fire continued to burn actively with increased fire behavior in the north and northeastern portions of the fire area, according to Cal Fire's Monday morning update.

"Evacuation orders were issued for portions of Glenn County last night due to increased fire activity," Cal Fire officials said. "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. Firing operations are scheduled for today pending weather conditions. The southern portion of the fire remains in patrol status as crews continue with suppression repair and mop up."

The River Fire is 100-percent contained and there continues to be no movement. Repair and patrol were still in place Monday for the River Fire.

In Lake County, mandatory evacuations remained in effect Monday morning for residents east of the Lake-Mendocino County Line, south of the Lake-Mendocino-Glenn County Line, west of the Lake-Colusa County Line, north of the fire perimeter and the Mendocino National Forest boundary.

In Mendocino County, mandatory evacuations remained in effect Monday for South and East of Eel River Road, west of the Mendocino Lake county line, and north of the 16000 block of Mid Mountain Road.

In Colusa County, mandatory evacuations were still in place for areas south of the Colusa-Glenn County line, east of the Colusa-Lake County line, north of Goat Mountain Road extending to Sullivan Ridge and west of the Mendocino National Forest boundary including Fouts Springs Road (Forest Road M10).

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Photos of Mendo Complex Fire burn area and Cal Fire Command Center in Ukiah, California, by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com