STONYFORD — The Mill Fire in the Colusa County portion of the Mendocino National Forest is now 45-percent contained as of Friday morning.
The fire, which burned 23,414 acres since Saturday, is expected to be contained by late next week, according to Northern California Incident Management Team 2 (NorCal Team 2).
A total of 1,624 personnel from 29 Type 1 crews and 13 Type 2 crews are battling the blaze, utilizing 100 fire engines, 19 bulldozers, 12 water tenders and eight helicopters.
Three injuries were reported, though not specified. The fire destroyed five buildings and has an estimated cost of $6.1 million. The cause is under investigation.
On Wednesday, CAL FIRE entered into Unified Command of the incident with NorCal Team 2.
Burnout operations continued Friday with smoke visible throughout the region. The southern flank of the fire burned actively in steep, rugged terrain overnight through Friday morning. The area”s topography and fire behavior make it dangerous for firefighters to attack the fire directly along the uncontained fire edge.
Fire operations are strengthening containment lines and consuming unburned fuel between the indirect line and the fire”s edge. Fire activity along the southern flank is expected to increase.
Slightly cooler weather and increased humidity are expected for the region, though overall weather changes are not expected to be dramatic.
U.S. Forest Service officials and the Incident Team are working with Air Quality Management Districts and agricultural business operations in nearby areas. The Forest Service and California Air Resources Board set up smoke monitors.
Archery season for deer hunting opens Saturday. A closure order for all roads and trails remains in effect for the fire area. Hunters who traditionally visit the recreation area outside Stonyford on the south central portion of the Grindstone Ranger District will be impacted by the closure.
Fire restrictions went into effect Friday. More information about the restrictions and the closure notice can be found online at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mendocino/alerts-notices.
The Snow Mountain Wilderness Area is still open and accessible from northern trailheads, including West Crockett. The Grindstone Ranger District also provides recreation opportunities including a popular off-highway vehicle trail system, of which the fire has impacted 90 miles or two-thirds of the system.
The Bureau of Reclamations announced Friday that East Park Reservoir in Colusa County is closed to recreational activities because of safety concerns, which include air quality and emergency vehicles operating in the area.
Evacuations are in effect for the areas of Fouts Springs, Bonnie View and Board Camp Springs, as well as campgrounds within the Upper Letts Lake area. Portions of Stonyford are under voluntary evacuation.
Lake View Loop Road to Goat Mountain Road is also a voluntary evacuation area. An advisory was issued to residents west of Stonyford-Lodoga Road between Stonyford and Goat Mountain Road to be prepared for possible evacuation.
Fouts Springs Road (M10 Road) is closed at Stonyford. Goat Mountain Road is closed at Stonyford-Lodoga Road.
