UPDATE 4/24/21 — The Turnout fire reached 100% containment today, according to an announcement from Cal Fire. The fire was the first significant wildfire in Mendocino County in 2021, reaching 200 acres within the first 24 hours since it first began on April 18.
UPDATE 4/22/21 — The Turnout Fire appears to be controlled, but not yet fully contained. Cal Fire announced today that containment had reached 75% and that the acreage remains 200 acres, now for several days. The operation is now mostly in mop up mode.
Here is a quote from Cal Fire’s press release:
Firefighters will remain at scene over the next few days to strengthen depth on containment lines, extinguish any internal hot spots, and mop up.
Cal Fire
See the full pdf from Cal Fire here.
MEU-Turnout-Fire-CAL-FIRE-Incident-Update-4-21-202UPDATE 4/21/21, 7:25 p.m. — Cal Fire has released their latest numbers for the Turnout Fire. The fire remains at 200 acres burned, with 65% containment, and 125 personnel on the fire.
From the Cal Fire press release:
Firefighters aggressively utilized resources to construct containment line today. The lower temperatures and higher humidity aided in their efforts. The steep terrain and difficult access remain a chanllenge. Firefighters will continue to strengthen containment lines, extinguish hots spots and mop up over the next few days.
Cal Fire
You can see the entire pdf here.
PM-Turnout-Fire-CAL-FIRE-Incident-Update-2021-PMUPDATED 4/21/21 — Containment on the Turnout Fire has reached 50% as of the Wednesday morning update from Cal Fire, thanks in part to a drop in temperatures during the night, which helped the work of placing containment lines. Today, firefighters will continue to place line, extinguish hot spots, and remove downed trees. Fire crews on the scene include 127 total personnel, including Cal Fire, California Department of Corrections crews, Hopland Fire, South Coast. and Redwood Fire, and eight engines, six hand crews, one dozer and one helicopter, and three water tenders.
WILLITS, 4/20/21 — As of Tuesday evening the Turnout Fire, which is burning a few hundred yards north of SR-253, between Ukiah and Boonville, is holding stead at 200 acres with 25% containment*. It should be noted that the standard of “containment” is a high one, indicating that a firm and total break has been built that that a very high certainty of containing the fire if it flares up. However, just because the fire is only 20% contained doesn’t mean that lesser levels of control haven’t been obtained. For instance the fire may have burned itself out in some areas, or other areas may have a hose-line around, or a hand-line, but not a total containment line.
Given that the fire has held steady at 200 acres all day, after only growing a few acres yesterday, it seems that the fire coming well under control, even without total containment. Today 147 personnel were working the fire, with limited air support. According to the Cal Fire press release for the evening:
Firefighters will remain at scene throughout the night to extinguish hotspots. They continue to be challenged by the steep, rugged terrain but worked to add depth to containment lines, remove hazard trees, and construct direct handline today.
Cal Fire
Starting this weekend there is some chance of rain, which should help to wrap up the fire.
If you can’t see the PDF below, follow this link: https://mendovoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PM-Turnout-Fire-CAL-FIRE-Incident-Update-4-202021.pdf
PM-Turnout-Fire-CAL-FIRE-Incident-Update-4-202021Here is our reporting from yesterday.
*A typo in an earlier version accidentally said that the containment was at 20%, it is in fact 25%.