SLOW BURN

Largest California Wildfire Won’t Be Fully Contained Until September

The Mendocino Complex wildfire is now 47 percent contained.

The Mendocino Complex fire that has been raging in California was 47 percent contained as of Wednesday morning, officials told SFGate. Even with the progress, officials claimed that the fire won’t be fully contained until September 1. The fire, now the largest in the state’s history, has since burned over 300,000 acres of land in Northern California—an area about ten times the size of San Francisco. At least 116 homes and 105 other structures have been burned thus far, and over 10,000 homes remain at risk. The Carr Fire, near the town of Redding, is also 47 percent contained, but has burned through 173,522 acres and destroyed 1,077 homes since it started in late July. Close to Yosemite National Park, the Ferguson Fire is now 43 percent contained after scorching close to 95,000 acres. The air quality in Northern California due to the three fires has caused concern for local officials, with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District telling residents to stay indoors if possible.