A couple of fast-growing wildfires in northern California expanded to more than two-thirds the size of sprawling Los Angeles as more residents were ordered to evacuate their homes and weary firefighters endured high temperatures and gusting winds.
Two blazes collectively called the Mendocino Complex burned in Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties, about 145 km north of San Francisco. The River and Ranch fires had grown to cover about 82,675 hectares by Saturday night, and were considered 32% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The Mendocino Complex is now considered the sixth-largest wildfire in California history. Four of the state’s largest six fires have occurred since 2012.
This year, California wildfires have burned more land earlier in the “fire season” than usual, said Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director, during a news conference on Saturday.
“Fire season is really just beginning. What seems like we should be in the peak of fire season, historically, is really now the kind of conditions we’re seeing really at the beginning,” said Pimlott.
California Governor Jerry Brown, who visited some of the burned areas on Saturday,…
