By Jason Green
The Mercury News
MENDOCINO, Calif. — A firefighter has been killed battling the massive Mendocino Complex Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection announced Monday.
“Fact finding on the accident is ongoing and notification of the next of kin is in progress,” Cal Fire said in a statement. “More information will be released as it becomes available.”
ABC News reported that the firefighter was from Utah and was fatally injured while working an active part of the fire.
This is the first confirmed death in the Mendocino Complex Fire in Mendocino County and the sixth of the fire season in California. Two firefighters have died battling the Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County and three battling the Carr Fire in Shasta County.
The Mendocino Complex blaze — comprised of the River and Ranch fires — has burned a record 350,000 acres since breaking out on July 27.
On Monday, Cal Fire reported that the River Fire was fully contained at 48,920 acres. The Ranch Fire, meanwhile, increased in size to 300,970 acres and was 59 percent contained.
Check back for updates.
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