The larger of the two fires making up the Mendocino Complex topped 112,000 acres Friday morning, August 3, with fire crews from dozens of agencies – including the San Francisco Fire Department – taking part in efforts to contain the blaze.
Late Friday morning, officials issued evacuation orders for communities along the northwest side of Clear Lake as the Ranch Fire spread southward out of the boundaries of the Mendocino National Forest, where the fire started just a week earlier.
The complex’s other fire – the smaller River Fire – had torched more than 41,000 acres by Friday morning, burning on the west side of Clear Lake. While the Ranch Fire stood at 28 percent contained, firefighters had fought their way to a 50 percent containment on the River Fire.
This video shows San Francisco firefighters working a section of the Ranch fire. Credit: San Francisco Fire via Storyful
