COVELO — The North Pass Fire, which started almost a month ago northeast of Covelo near Williams Valley, stayed at 41,983 acres and 97 percent contained Thursday.
Ignited by lightning just before 3 a.m. on Aug. 18, the wildfire spread quickly at first, with runs of 4,000 acres per day, but growth slowed as more fire crews arrived, according to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
The constructed fire line is holding the fire in place, and full containment is expected Sunday evening.
More than two dozen structures were destroyed and four others sustained damage. Nine injuries were reported. “Significant economic impacts threaten commercial timber resources,” according to the USFS.
A total of 240 fire personnel were on scene Thursday.
Fire suppression repair is ongoing and those efforts — which include water bars within the constructed fire line to prevent erosion, chipping of brush piles, repair of drainage and roads, and removal of hazardous trees — will continue even after crews reach full containment.
Roads near the fire are closed and will remain so until hazards are removed and crews complete repair work.
Mendocino Pass Road (Forest Highway 7) is open, but all other forest roads within the fire closure, including M1, M2, M4, M21 and Blands Cove Road, remain closed.
The fire area is closed to the public because of unsafe hazards such as burning stump holes and falling trees. The closure may remain in effect for an extended period of time until all hazards can be mitigated, according to the USFS.
For current closure information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino and search under “Alerts and Warnings.”
For more incident details, visit www.inciweb.org/incident/3201.
