Reporting from Redding — A massive pair of fires burning on either side of Clear Lake, about 100 miles north of San Francisco, exploded to nearly 230,000 acres Saturday night, making the conflagration among the largest on record in California and the most pressing of 17 large wildfires across the state.
The Mendocino Complex fire, now the sixth-largest in recorded state history, has forced thousands of people to evacuate and has burned dozens of homes. Last year’s Thomas fire, which burned 281,000 acres in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, was California’s largest.
Farther north near Redding, residents began returning Saturday to neighborhoods ravaged by the Carr fire, which has killed six people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes.
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Dan Kissick was among those returning. He said the fire had overwhelmed his neighborhood faster than anyone expected on July 26. After more than a week away, Kissick came back to the site of his home on Kellinger Street to find it gone, except for some portions of walls.
(Ellis Simani / @latimesgraphics)
The night of the fire, Kissick and his family fled when the air filled with smoke and the sky turned an orange-red. They grabbed a suitcase and some shirts, but hadn’t packed a proper “go-bag” filled with important belongings or supplies, Kissick said.
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“I basically only took clothes for two or three days, thinking I’ll be back. That was obviously a misjudgment,” said Kissick, 60. “I knew it was bad, but I didn’t think it was that bad.”
Nearly every home on the block was destroyed except for a two-story one with scorched palm trees in the backyard.
Kissick said he considered himself lucky in the grand scheme of things. He and his family had a relative to stay with the night they fled. The next day, they snagged a rental property nearby before those were all snapped up by the thousands of other evacuees.
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“Nobody got hurt, so you’ve got to look at the good,” he said. “I know not everybody was as lucky.”
More than 4,500 firefighters stationed in two Shasta County base camps have battled the 145,000-acre blaze for nearly two weeks, facing triple-digit temperatures, winds up to 30 mph and desert-dry air.
Numerous media reports have blamed the start of the massive blaze on a vehicle towing a trailer with a flat tire, its metal rim creating sparks as it rolled along. In an interview Saturday evening, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said the cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Gov. Jerry Brown visited the fire command center at the county fairgrounds on Saturday. Increased year-round fire activity was “the new normal” for the state, he said. The governor said he had asked President Trump to issue a major disaster declaration to aid the firefighting and recovery effort.
“He has done it in the past; I am confident he will do it again,” Brown said.
The Carr fire — which has affected communities around Whiskeytown Lake and the Sacramento River — was moving into areas where it will be more difficult to control, fire behavior analyst Don Boursier said. Years of drought have left California’s forests more vulnerable, and so far this year the area around the fire has seen 33 days of 100-degree temperatures, the National Weather Service said.
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Cattle graze on the grassland near the Ranch fire outside of Lodoga.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A man fishes in Clear Lake as the smoky haze shrouds visibility in Clearlake Oaks.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A plume of smoke rises from the Mendocino Complex fire near Lodoga. The Mendocino Complex Fire, which is made up of the River Fire and Ranch Fire, has surpassed the Thomas Fire to become the largest wildfire in California state history with over 300,000 acres charred.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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Firefighters battling the Mendocino Complex blaze monitor a burn operation on top of a ridge near the town of Ladoga on Aug. 7.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Crews battling the Mendocino Complex fire supervise a burn operation near the town of Ladoga on Aug. 7.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters keep an eye on a burn operation as part of the battle against the Mendocino Complex blaze on Aug. 7.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Arnold Lasker looks over the remains of his girlfriend’s house in Spring Valley, near Clearlake Oaks, on Aug. 7.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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Evacuated during the Ranch fire, Jay Michael and Gretchen Fritsch rest in their car in the parking lot of the Moose Lodge in Clearlake Oaks on Aug. 7. This is the eighth time they have been evacuated since living in the area, and the third time this year.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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Burned out cars sit in the remains of a home that was destroyed by the Medocino Complex fire in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A sign warns people to stay out of a burned area in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Helicopters enroute to pick up water at the Mendocino Complex fire in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A Buddha statue is seen at a burned home in Spring Valley, near Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
(JOSH EDELSON / AFP/Getty Images)
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Image taken from the International Space Station shows the wildfires burning in Calif. In the upper left portion of the image is the Carr and Mendocino Complex fires and to the right is the Ferguson fire. (ALEXANDER GERST / AFP/Getty Images)
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Resident Lane Lawder carries a water bucket while fighting to save his home from the Ranch fire burning along New Long Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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A tree burns from the inside during the Ranch fire in Clearlake Oaks.
(Josh Edelson / Associated Press)
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An air tanker drops retardant on the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire, burning along High Valley Rd near Clearlake Oaks.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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A fire truck passes a vineyard while battling the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire, near Clearlake Oaks.
(NOAH BERGER / AFP/Getty Images)
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A hillside smolders after flames passed through during the Ranch fire in Clearlake Oaks.
(Josh Edelson / Associated Press)
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The Ranch fire burns a home on New Long Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks on Saturday.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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A firefighter gathers water from a pool while battling the Ranch Fire near Clearlake Oaks on Saturday.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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A deer flees as the Ranch fire tears down New Long Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks on Saturday.
(Noah Berger / AFP/Getty Images)
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Dan Kissick, 60, left, shown with his son Jeff Kissick, searches the remains of his home on Kellinger Street on Saturday after the Carr fire hit Redding.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Maureen Kissick examines china from her wedding 36 years ago as she sits in what was once the dining room of her home on Kellinger Street in Redding.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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A Pacific Gas and Electric Co. crew repairs power lines Saturday near the damaged home of Jose Briones along Baker Road in Redding.
(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
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Smoke clouds rise from the Ranch Fire portion of the Mendocino Complex Fire in Lakeport on Aug. 1.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Buzz Craddock carries a pack tied with antlers covered in fire retardant as firefighters work to stop the progression of the River fire in Lakeport, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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The charred remains of a truck sit in the ash in Lakeport, Calif., on Aug. 1.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters watch as air tankers drop fire retardant ahead of the River fire in Lakeport, Calif., on Aug. 1.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Helicopters make water drops as flames from the River fire advance towards Lakeport, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A West Covina firefighter works as a barn in the background is destroyed by the Mendocino complex fires near Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A barn is engulfed in flames as the Mendocino complex fires spread with the wind near Hendricks Road in Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Chickens near a home being destroyed by the Mendocino complex fires in a neighborhood near Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters work to keep flames from the Mendocino complex fires from destroying a home as evening winds kick in near Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A helicopter makes a water drop near the raging Mendocino complex fires west of Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters work to keep flames from the Mendocino complex fires from destroying a home as evening winds kick in near Lakeport, Calif., on July 31.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A firefighter monitors a controlled burn along California 20 in Upper Lake on July 31. The Ranch and River fires are burning together as the Mendocino complex fires.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters from S&R Contracting in Oregon dig into the ground as they make sure all residual flames are put out near Redding, Calif., on July 30.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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The Carr fire destroyed and sunk boats docked at the marina in Whiskeytown, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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The Carr fire swept through and destroyed property and structures in Shasta, Calif.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A Cal Fire firefighter waters down a back burn on Cloverdale Road near the town of Igo on Saturday, July 28, 2018. The back burn kept the fire from jumping toward the town. Scorching heat, winds and dry conditions complicated firefighting efforts.
(Hector Amezcua / Associated Press)
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A deer stands in the middle of a road covered in fire retardant as the Carr fire continues to threaten structures near Redding on Saturday, July 28, 2018.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Mark Peterson, who lost his home in the Carr fire, gives water to goats that survived the blaze on Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Redding.
(Noah Berger / AP)
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Wildfire destroyed homes overnight in Lake Keswick Estates near Redding on July 27.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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A woman covers her face while viewing her grandmother’s home, burned in the Carr fire in Redding, on July 27.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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A firefighter sprays water on what’s left of a Redding home damaged by the Carr fire on July 27.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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A firefighter lights backfires during the Carr fire near Redding on July 27.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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A burning home is reflected in a pool during the Carr fire in Redding on July 27.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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A home burns along Sunflower Road in Redding during the Carr fire on July 27.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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A structure burns as the Carr fire races along State Route 299 near Redding on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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Firefighters transport a Carr fire evacuee to the Mercy Medical Center emergency room on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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Firefighters discuss plans while battling the Carr fire in Shasta County on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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Firefighters regroup while battling the Carr cire in Shasta County on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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A structure is engulfed in flames as the Carr fire burns along State Route 299 near Redding on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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A water tender operator helping to battle the Carr fire drinks a beverage after trying to save a burning structure in Shasta on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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The Carr fire burns near Shasta on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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A historic schoolhouse burns as the Carr fire tears through Shasta on July 26.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
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It hasn’t rained in the Redding or Anderson areas in 71 days.
“The calendar is saying it’s August, the fuel is telling us its September,” Boursier told firefighters during a morning briefing Saturday.
The fire was 41% contained and expected to burn north, deeper into Trinity County forest land around Blue Mountain, officials said.
Two firefighters have been killed battling the blaze, along with four civilians — including a 70-year-old woman who died trying to shield her great-grandchildren, ages 4 and 5, with a wet blanket as her house burned around them.
The forecast for the days ahead includes more intense, dry heat and wind — awful firefighting weather.
The large wildfires burning in the state have scorched over 450,000 acres, displaced around 40,000 residents and are being fought by more than 14,000 firefighters from around the state and country.
Among them is the Ferguson fire near Yosemite National Park, which has burned more than 81,000 acres. Yosemite Valley has been closed since July 25.
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Back in Redding, Marilyn and Nick Peters treaded lightly on top of their home’s burnt remains Saturday, occasionally hunching over to sift through a pile of rubble.
Nick, 49, tried to find the silver lining in the situation. They had lost their home, one of at least 1,600 destroyed in a span of a few days last week, but they survived, were insured and managed to save a few mementos.
“I found my ring; it still has all the diamonds,” Marilyn said with a half-smile. Nick reached into a pile of stuff on the driveway and pulled out a round, flat piece of cement with Marilyn’s handprint from when she was 5 years old. “I knew this wouldn’t burn,” he joked.
Nick, who works for Pacific Gas & Electric Co., said he’d returned to the neighborhood with crews a week ago to begin restoring power. “Then, I was numb,” he said. “Today it hit me.”
Serna reported from Redding and Dolan from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Javier Panzar in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Jack Dolan is an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. A winner of numerous national awards, he has twice been named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
