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Northern California and Southern Oregon Fire Update 8-13: Ranch Fire becomes biggest in CA History

**Update 8-14 10:00 am: Calfire has confirmed the death of one firefighter who was working on the Ranch Fire. It is the first fatality recorded in the Mendocino Complex Fires.                                                            

With fire season raging on, containment efforts have begun to make progress. However, the state’s two largest fires, The Mendocino Compex Fire and the Carr Fire, both grew in size over the weekend. Hot, dry conditions as well as gusty winds led to the spread of these fires.

One of the two fires in the Mendocino Complex, the Ranch Fire, has now become the largest in state history at 295,970 acres. However, the fire is 59% contained as crews continue to work on the blaze. The smaller fire in the Mendocino Complex, the River fire, is 48,920 acres and 98% contained. The two fires have burned down 146 homes and 118 other structures. 

Incident updates as well as evacuation orders for the Mendocino Complex fire can be found here. **as of 8-11**

II. The Carr Fire grew to 202,976 acres over the weekend and containment has increased to 61%. Over 1,000 homes have been destroyed along with 500 other structures. Evacuations remain in place for Trinity Dam at Trinity Dam Blvd in Trinity County, and for Whiskeytown Park and Rainbow Lake in Shasta County.

An interactive map of areas under evacuation, as well as areas that have been allowed to repopulate can be found here. Most residents who were under mandatory evacuations in previous weeks have been allowed to return home.

Caltrans has announced that HWY 299 has reopened, but under heavy traffic control in the following areas:

EB State Route 299 is closed at Trinity Dam Blvd, approximately 16 mi east of Weaverville (Trinity County) except as noted below. Due to a vegetation fire. EB 299 will be open with escorted traffic control between the hours of 12:00pm and 1:30 pm and 6pm and 5 am daily. Motorists should expect delay and use caution while in the area.

WB State Route 299 is closed at the Whiskeytown Lake Overlook, at Whiskeytown Lake (Shasta County) except as noted below. Due to a vegetation fire. WB 299 will be open to all vehicles with escorted traffic control between the hours of 12 pm and 1:30 pm, and 6 pm and 5 am daily.

**Courtesy of Caltrans

III. The Taylor Creek and Klondike Fires are burning between Cave Junction and Grants Pass, Oregon. The Klondike Fire is burning at 51,120 acres with 15% containment. The Taylor Creek fire is 45,257 acres with 45% containment. Inciweb is warning that these fires could increase today due to temperature increases and a change of direction in wind from northeast to northwest. The full incident update can be found here.

IV. The Natchez Fire is burning just below the Oregon Border at just over 16,000 acres.

KHSU will continue to provide updates as these situations develop.