louis martin
cns news & features
Two big wildfires burned out of control as of midnight Thursday, but firefighters were making progress at halting their paths of destruction.
In Marin county near Inverness, a fire that has burned 11,100 acres was 60% contained, according to fire information officer Bernie Alie. It is predicted the fire will be fully contained by midnight on Saturday, she said.
Cooler weather, an offshore breeze, and more humidity helped firefighters with the blaze on Thursday.
Forty-seven structures have been destroyed by the blaze that has been going since Tuesday. Seventy-three crews, 152 engines, 33 bulldozers, 8 air tankers, and 10 helicopters have fought the blaze. A total of 2068 firefighters have been involved in fighting the fire that flared up from the embers of an illegal campfire, igniting bone-dry vegetation.
In Mendocino county another fire has burned some 2,800 acres near Potter Valley northeast of Ukiah. The blaze, which began on Wednesday, has occupied 750 firefighters, 21 engines, 8 bulldozers, and numerous aircraft.
As of 5 PM on Thursday, no structures had been lost, according to CDF fire captain Karen Shubin.
Ten miles of line have been built around the fire to control it. Four more remain to be built.
The fire has been burning towards the southwest but has made several turns to the north. It is burning in brush and oak woodland areas.
On Wednesday heavy smoke from the Mendocino fire drifted over to the southern part of the coast. On Thursday the coast was mostly clear.
(10/4/95)