WILLITS, 8/16/18 — Here’s a collection of photos from the Mendocino Complex we’ve taken over the last two weeks, including several from the first few days of the fire.
You can also check out our videos from the fires on our Facebook page for more footage of the fires and efforts to fight it; Senator Kamala Harris’ visit to Middletown; an explainer of common firefighting terms, videos from both the Ranch and River fires on the day the fires started, and more.
Scroll down for the photo gallery, and click on it to go into full screen mode.
From a reader: “Local artist Debbie Pacheco outfitted the Tight String Cowboy. Noel Hale carved the Tight String Cowboy in 1986, the first year of Potter using the new rodeo grounds. Before the rodeo even started it got its head cut off. Then it got its head stolen again, rumor has it its face got a shotgun to it once as well. Finally, a few years back. the whole thing got stolen after it fell over in a windstorm, only to be returned in a bed of hay at the original rodeo grounds. Now it resides at the base of Mid Mountain Road and frequents the Mendo Voice front page. If ya got any questions whether Potter will come through all this alright, just look to the Tight String Cowboy.”
Panorama of Ranch and River Fires from Incident Command in Ukiah 7:28:18 — Kate B. Maxwell
Thank You Firefighter signs outside the Mendocino Complex Incident Command in Ukiah - Kate B. Maxwell
Vehicles from various fire fighting agencies, and others, park along Mid Mountain Rd. in Potter Valley.
Bella puts a mask on Zander the dog. This photo was taken during the poor air quality caused by the Ranch Fire, but it's still cute - photo by reader Dolly Brown.
Smoke from the Ranch Fire behind Hopper's in Potter Valley on Monday, August 7 — Kate Maxwell.
A smoke plume rises from the Ranch Fire, at about 7 p.m. on Aug. 5., facing west from Potter Valley.
A photo of the small plume coming from the direction of the River Fire on the evening of Aug. 3 - A.F. Baumann
A convict crew of firefighters standing along Hwy. 20 on the evening of July 27, fighting the Ranch Fire. - Adrian Baumann
A view of the Ranch Fire flaring up as the sun went down. Facing east from Potter Valley. - A.F. Baumann
A view of the Ranch Fire growing, as seen from Potter Valley at dusk, facing east — The Mendocino Voice.
A CalFire copter flies to gather more water to fight the River Fire, taken from Old River Rd. - A.F. Baumann
