A complex of fires in Northern California are consuming more land than any other wildfire in the state’s history. They’ve burned 290,000 acres, an area that’s almost the size of the city of Los Angeles.
The Mendocino Complex fires are growing rapidly in three rural counties 100 miles north of San Francisco. Fire officials have evacuated entire towns, including Clearlake.
CalFire spokesman Ron Oatman says massive fires are burning through a diverse stretch of terrain.
“It’s such a large area that we’re looking at fields, to rolling hills, to steep rugged terrain, to tree, grass brush," Oatman said. "Everything that could be out there, is out there.”
These fires are burning in largely rural, forested areas, so they haven’t destroyed nearly as many homes as the deadly Carr Fire, which is still burning to the north. That fire has destroyed more than 1,000 homes.
As of Monday morning, the Mendocino Complex fires destroyed at least 75 homes.
"This is a very large fire," Oatman said. "Unfortunately, some homes were destroyed, but such a large amount of the fire is out in the open forest."
Triple-digit temperatures and dry winds have pushed the flames across three creeks and a containment line. They have burned for almost two weeks.
