This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
News
Mendocino Complex fires fourth largest in California’s history
Deadly wildfires have been raging in northern California for the past 11 days, with the Mendocino Complex fires now ranked as the fourth largest wildfire in state history.
As reported by The Press Democrat, the Mendocino Complex fires, which are burning in Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties, grew on Sunday by nearly 38,000 acres to 268,000 acres, according to the California Fire Department.
California’s largest fire, the Thomas fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara, consumed nearly 282,000 acres last December, just 15,000 more than the Mendocino Complex fires.
The Ranch fire, the larger of the two Mendocino Complex fires, “will be burning for days,” according to senator Mike McGuire, who represents California’s North Coast.
The Ranch fire has grown by around 100,000 acres over the last two days and has “a heavy fuel load in its path” in the Mendocino National Forest.
“There is a high likelihood that the Ranch fire will eclipse the Thomas fire and become the largest fire in California history,” McGuire told The Press Democrat.
The Mendocino Complex fires began on 27 July. So far, the smaller River fire has consumed 50,000 acres, while the larger Ranch fire has ripped across 218,000 acres.
On Sunday evening both fires were just 33% contained, had destroyed 68 homes and left a broad swath of north Lake County under mandatory evacuation, forcing over 23,000 residents from their homes.
Daren Dalrymple, of the US Forest Service, warned Lake Country residents that when they are allowed to return home there will still be “a lot of smoke” from the burning forestlands.
US President Donald Trump declared the fires as a major disaster on Saturday to bolster the emergency response and government assistance for the wildfires. Strong winds, warm temperatures and low humidity are helping to fuel the fires.
A separate fire, the Carr fire, which is currently blazing in the outskirts of Redding in Shasta County, claimed the life of a power company lineman on Saturday.
Trump blamed the fires on “bad environmental laws” that aren’t allowing readily available water to be properly utilised, because, according to Trump, the water “is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean”.
Trump failed to express condolences to the families of the wildfire victims or thank the firefighters for their ongoing efforts in tackling the blazes.