Firefighters gain ground on record-breaking Mendocino Complex fire as battles against statewide blazes continue
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Cattle graze on the grassland near the Ranch fire outside of Lodoga.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A man fishes in Clear Lake as the smoky haze shrouds visibility in Clearlake Oaks.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A plume of smoke rises from the Mendocino Complex fire near Lodoga. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which is made up of the River Fire and Ranch Fire, has surpassed the Thomas Fire to become the largest wildfire in California state history with over 300,000 acres charred.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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Firefighters battling the Mendocino Complex blaze monitor a burn operation on top of a ridge near the town of Ladoga on Aug. 7.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Crews battling the Mendocino Complex fire supervise a burn operation near the town of Ladoga on Aug. 7.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters keep an eye on a burn operation as part of the battle against the Mendocino Complex blaze on Aug. 7.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Arnold Lasker looks over the remains of his girlfriend’s house in Spring Valley, near Clearlake Oaks, on Aug. 7.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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Evacuated during the Ranch fire, Jay Michael and Gretchen Fritsch rest in their car in the parking lot of the Moose Lodge in Clearlake Oaks on Aug. 7. This is the eighth time they have been evacuated since living in the area, and the third time this year.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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Burned out cars sit in the remains of a home that was destroyed by the Medocino Complex fire in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A sign warns people to stay out of a burned area in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Helicopters enroute to pick up water at the Mendocino Complex fire in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A Buddha statue is seen at a burned home in Spring Valley, near Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
(JOSH EDELSON / AFP/Getty Images)
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Image taken from the International Space Station shows the wildfires burning in Calif. In the upper left portion of the image is the Carr and Mendocino Complex fires and to the right is the Ferguson fire. (ALEXANDER GERST / AFP/Getty Images)
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Resident Lane Lawder carries a water bucket while fighting to save his home from the Ranch fire burning along New Long Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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A tree burns from the inside during the Ranch fire in Clearlake Oaks.
(Josh Edelson / Associated Press)
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An air tanker drops retardant on the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire, burning along High Valley Rd near Clearlake Oaks.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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A fire truck passes a vineyard while battling the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire, near Clearlake Oaks.
(NOAH BERGER / AFP/Getty Images)
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A hillside smolders after flames passed through during the Ranch fire in Clearlake Oaks.
(Josh Edelson / Associated Press)
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The Ranch fire burns a home on New Long Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks on Saturday.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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A firefighter gathers water from a pool while battling the Ranch Fire near Clearlake Oaks on Saturday.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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A deer flees as the Ranch fire tears down New Long Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks on Saturday.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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Dan Kissick, 60, left, shown with his son Jeff Kissick, searches the remains of his home on Kellinger Street on Saturday after the Carr fire hit Redding.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Maureen Kissick examines china from her wedding 36 years ago as she sits in what was once the dining room of her home on Kellinger Street in Redding.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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A Pacific Gas and Electric Co. crew repairs power lines Saturday near the damaged home of Jose Briones along Baker Road in Redding.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Smoke clouds rise from the Ranch Fire portion of the Mendocino Complex Fire in Lakeport on Aug. 1.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Buzz Craddock carries a pack tied with antlers covered in fire retardant as firefighters work to stop the progression of the River fire in Lakeport, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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The charred remains of a truck sit in the ash in Lakeport, Calif., on Aug. 1.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters watch as air tankers drop fire retardant ahead of the River fire in Lakeport, Calif., on Aug. 1.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Helicopters make water drops as flames from the River fire advance towards Lakeport, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A West Covina firefighter works as a barn in the background is destroyed by the Mendocino complex fires near Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A barn is engulfed in flames as the Mendocino complex fires spread with the wind near Hendricks Road in Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Chickens near a home being destroyed by the Mendocino complex fires in a neighborhood near Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters work to keep flames from the Mendocino complex fires from destroying a home as evening winds kick in near Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A helicopter makes a water drop near the raging Mendocino complex fires west of Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters work to keep flames from the Mendocino complex fires from destroying a home as evening winds kick in near Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A firefighter monitors a controlled burn along California 20 in Upper Lake on July 31. The Ranch and River fires are burning together as the Mendocino complex fires.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters from S&R Contracting in Oregon dig into the ground as they make sure all residual flames are put out near Redding, Calif., on July 30.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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The Carr fire destroyed and sunk boats docked at the marina in Whiskeytown, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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The Carr fire swept through and destroyed property and structures in Shasta, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A Cal Fire firefighter waters down a back burn on Cloverdale Road near the town of Igo on Saturday, July 28, 2018. The back burn kept the fire from jumping toward the town. Scorching heat, winds and dry conditions complicated firefighting efforts.
(Hector Amezcua / Associated Press)
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A deer stands in the middle of a road covered in fire retardant as the Carr fire continues to threaten structures near Redding on Saturday, July 28, 2018.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Mark Peterson, who lost his home in the Carr fire, gives water to goats that survived the blaze on Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Redding.
(Noah Berger / AP)
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Wildfire destroyed homes overnight in Lake Keswick Estates near Redding on July 27.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A woman covers her face while viewing her grandmother’s home, burned in the Carr fire in Redding, on July 27.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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A firefighter sprays water on what’s left of a Redding home damaged by the Carr fire on July 27.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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A firefighter lights backfires during the Carr fire near Redding on July 27.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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A burning home is reflected in a pool during the Carr fire in Redding on July 27.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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A home burns along Sunflower Road in Redding during the Carr fire on July 27.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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A structure burns as the Carr fire races along State Route 299 near Redding on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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Firefighters transport a Carr fire evacuee to the Mercy Medical Center emergency room on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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Firefighters discuss plans while battling the Carr fire in Shasta County on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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Firefighters regroup while battling the Carr cire in Shasta County on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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A structure is engulfed in flames as the Carr fire burns along State Route 299 near Redding on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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A water tender operator helping to battle the Carr fire drinks a beverage after trying to save a burning structure in Shasta on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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The Carr fire burns near Shasta on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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A historic schoolhouse burns as the Carr fire tears through Shasta on July 26.
Reporting from Ukiah, Calif. — Firefighters in Northern California were beginning to gain ground Tuesday against a record-breaking wildfire in Lake County, as firefighters across the state continued battling 18 blazes that have scorched more than 619,000 acres.
The Mendocino Complex fire, which became the largest wildfire in California history Monday night, had burned more than 292,000 acres as of Tuesday evening, officials said. The sprawling blaze, which is a combination of the Ranch and River fires in Lake County, has frustrated firefighters as it continues to leap natural and man-made barriers.
The Thomas fire, which scorched 281,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties last year, had been the largest wildfire in state history before Monday night — a dubious distinction it held for just eight months.
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(Jon Schleuss / Los Angeles Times)
Prolonged drought and extreme heat have made California ripe for dangerous fires in recent months and years. Of the five largest wildfires in state history, four have occurred since 2012.
The relentless blazes have taken a toll on the men and women working the fire lines. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Steve Kaufman, who was at the scene of the Mendocino Complex fire Tuesday morning, was also on the ground for the Thomas fire.
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“It’s surreal. It’s exhausting,” he said. “A lot of firefighters are going on 30-plus days fighting fires without going home.”
The fire was only 34% contained as of Tuesday evening. Fire officials focused on protecting Lucerne and surrounding communities along Clear Lake where homes are in danger. Although the area is under mandatory evacuation, some residents haven’t left yet.
“It’s definitely a challenge because residents who live in these communities have been affected every year,” Kaufman said, referring to fires that have plagued the area since 2015. “You can tell it takes its toll on residents.”
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Farther north in Redding, firefighters were hoping favorable weather conditions Tuesday and Wednesday would help them beat back the deadly Carr fire, which has claimed seven lives.
The blaze has slowed in the last 48 hours but continues to challenge firefighters with unpredictable wind shifts and spot fires that jump defensive lines, incident commanders said at a briefing Tuesday morning.
The Carr fire has so far scorched 172,055 acres since a vehicle malfunction sparked it July 23 on Highway 299 near Whiskeytown Lake. More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in the fire, which was at 47% containment Tuesday evening.
Although firefighters have gained ground, the fire’s push to the southwest has some officials concerned. Winds could still blow embers that might reignite brush and other fuel sources, and the northern portion of the blaze has continued to burn in rugged terrain where firefighters cannot attack the flames directly.
A high-pressure system has kept Redding broiling in the triple-digits in recent days, but it is also keeping a lid on the fire by trapping the smoke in the Sacramento Valley, meteorologists said. The stew of heat and low air quality might be unhealthy for residents and firefighters, but the conditions are also keeping the flames at bay, officials said.
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A firefighter douses hot spots in the McVicker Canyon neighborhood of Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Kenneth Leishman’s home is pink from fire retardant in the McVicker Canyon neighborhood of Lake Elsinore. Leishman stayed to protect his house from the fire. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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A bird perches on a rock Saturday morning at a lookout on Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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An air tanker drops fire retardant on a flare-up of the Holy fire on a mountain ridge above Lake Elsinore, Calif. Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Gina Ferazzi)
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People watch as the Holy fire rages on a mountainside in Temescal Valley. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Fire crews from Ventura County brace themselves as fire retardant falls on them after being dropped from the sky while they work to stop the progression of the Holy fire in Lake Elsinore. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Helicopters make drops near homes threatened by the Holy fire in Lake Elsinore. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)
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As the sun rises above Lake Elsinore on Saturday morning, the overnight crew working to contain the Holy fire prepares to leave. Containment levels have continued to rise since the fire broke out Monday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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The charred remains of vehicles lie along Ortega Highway on Saturday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Residents keep watch Friday night as the Holy fire burns out of control in the hillsides above Temescal Valley. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters try to stop the progression of the Holy fire as it makes its way toward homes due to the strong evening winds from Lake Elsinore. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Stephen Woodward looks towards the sky as helicopters make rounds from Lake Elsinore to the hillside in their fight against the Holy fire on Friday. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)
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Jeff Qualls stands on his roof to watch an air tanker drop fire retardant on flames from the Holy fire as it make its way down the hillside in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Fire retardant paints a Lakeland Village neighborhood pink in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters try to stop the progression of the Holy fire as it makes its way toward homes due to the strong evening winds in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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An air tanker drops a load of water to save a home in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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A helicopter fighting the Holy fire drops water on flames at North Main Divide along Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters battle to save a home from a wall off flames as the Holy fire continues to burn out of control in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Residents and law enforcement wear breathing mask to avoid the thick smoke created by Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Chief Mark Lamont, center, oversees firefighting operations at North Main Divide along Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Two dozers cut a fire line next to flames at North Main Divide along Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Afternoon winds fan flames close to a home north of Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighter Jon Polansky rest after working an overnight shift at a lookout on Ortega Highway above Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Kai Cano rest after working an overnight shift at lookout on Ortega Highway. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters watch for flareups as they prevent the flames from the Holy fire from crossing the Ortega Highway in Lake Elsinore. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters conduct a burn operation to remove fuel around homes on Grand Avenue as the Holy fire grows to more than 10,000 acres. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Fire crews watch as a helicopter makes a water drop on a flareup as they prevent the Holy fire from crossing the Ortega Highway above Lake Elsinore. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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The Holy fire, which has grown to more than 10,000 acres, is reflected off the water of Lake Elsinore. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)
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Jeff Itschner, 43, sprays water on the bushes at his in-laws’ home on Amorose Street near Leach Canyon in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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A helicopter makes a water drop on burning brush on a hill across from homes in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Manuel Trujillo packs his belongings as flames from the Holy fire approach his Lake Elsinore neighborhood. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters struggle to keep the Holy fire from jumping Lincoln Street toward homes in Lake Elsinore. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Residents evacuate the 29000 block of Sandpiper Drive in Lake Elsinore as the Holy fire approaches homes. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Flames come close to homes in the 29000 block of Sandpiper Drive in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Worried residents watch as flames advance toward their homes on Sandpiper Drive in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Stephanie Caceres packs her belongings into her car as the Holy fire approaches homes on Sandpiper Drive in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Cal Fire’s Mario Gonzalez keeps an eye on the Holy fire raging near homes in Leach Canyon. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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An air tanker fights the Holy fire, which forced more evacuations of neighborhoods in the Lake Elsinore area Wednesday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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The Holy fire on Wednesday approaches Lake Elsinore’s McVicker Canyon neighborhood, which is under mandatory evacuation orders. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Two men monitor the Holy fire from a rooftop as it approaches the McVicker Canyon neighborhood in Lake Elsinore. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The Trabuco Canyon home of arson suspect Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, stands untouched amid charred remains in his neighborhood. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris O’Neal, a video journalist from Laguna Niguel, is silhouetted by a smoke-obscured sun as a fire helicopter keeps an eye on the Holy fire approaching McVicker Canyon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The Holy fire reached very close to homes in a Lake Elsinore neighborhood forcing evacuation and deployment large air tankers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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The Holy fire burns toward homes in a Lake Elsinore neighborhood, forcing evacuation orders and the deployment of large air tankers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Smoke from the Holy fire darkens the sky over the Glen Ivy Golf Club as the blaze burns on the mountain ridges around Corona. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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The Holy fire in the Cleveland National Forest pushed closer to some homes Wednesday, prompting a new round of mandatory evacuations. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Lester and Blanca Fronk watch for planes fighting the Holy Fire in Lake Elsinore. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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U.S. Forest Service fire crews make their way to the Holy fire, burning on mountain ridges in the Cleveland National Forest near Corona. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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Bob Tyler clears his driveway covered by ashes from Holy Fire falling on his neighborhood of 11000 block of Kingbird Drive in Corona. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
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A plane drops fire retardant on the Holy fire burning in Cleveland National Forest above a home in Lake Elsinore on Aug. 7. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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A man prepares to fish as smoke rises from the Holy fire in the Cleveland National Forest in Lake Elsinore on Aug. 6. (Mario Tama / Getty Images)
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Even as firefighters are making progress on one end of the state, problems continue to spring up in Central and Southern California. A sudden ignition in Cleveland National Forest in Orange County quickly grew to 3,399 acres Monday, and the fire was visible from as far away as Santa Catalina Island, producing a towering plume of thick smoke. Authorities had initially estimated the Holy fire’s size to be 4,000 acres. By Tuesday night, it was 5% contained. Authorities ordered evacuations in Holy Jim Canyon, a Trabuco Canyon residence tract, and Blue Jay and Falcon campgrounds.
A fire that broke out in Stanislaus National Forest had grown to 13,000 acres as of Monday night and destroyed 235 structures, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire has been burning since Aug. 1 but grew significantly over the weekend.
Kaufman said his fellow firefighters have grown increasingly concerned about the abnormal behavior of the recent fires.
“We’re seeing fire behavior that firefighters have never seen in their careers,” Kaufman said. “They move faster, they’re more erratic, more unpredictable, we have more wind on our fires. And I don’t remember in my career having this many civilian fatalities. Those things are alarming to us.”
Meanwhile, near Yosemite National Park, weather conditions over the last few days have helped firefighters increase containment of the Ferguson fire, which has been burning for 26 days and caused the indefinite closure of Yosemite Valley.
As of Tuesday, the deadly wildfire had scorched 94,992 acres and was 43% contained.
“The last couple of days have been good for us,” Incident Commander Mark Von Tillow told reporters Tuesday afternoon.
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Firefighters are working desperately to prevent the fire from moving northeast and into Yosemite National Park, where it can burn through dead trees and dry vegetation, essentially extending the life of the fire and producing a new set of problems for fire officials.
“It’s a critical piece,” said Kelly Martin, chief of fire and aviation management at Yosemite National Park. “There’s potential for long-term impact.”
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office said more than 200 homes remain under mandatory evacuation orders in Yosemite West and about 50 in Foresta.
Reyes-Velarde reported from Ukiah. Serna reported from Redding. Queally and Vives reported from Los Angeles.
Alejandra Reyes-Velarde is a Metro reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Previously she wrote for the San Francisco Business Times and the Sacramento Bee. A UCLA graduate, she is originally from Duarte, Calif., and is a native Spanish speaker.
James Queally writes about crime and policing in Southern California, where he currently covers Los Angeles County’s criminal courts, the district attorney’s office and juvenile justice issues for the Los Angeles Times.
Ruben Vives is a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Times. A native of Guatemala, he got his start in journalism by writing for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2007. He helped uncover the financial corruption in the city of Bell that led to criminal charges against eight city officials. The 2010 investigative series won the Pulitzer Prize for public service and other prestigious awards.
