"We broke the record," state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Scott McLean said. "That's one of those records you don't want to see."
The Ranch and River fires that make up the Mendocino Complex wildfire had grown to 283,800 acres by Monday evening, Cal Fire said in their latest update. Some 3,908 firefighters, 441 fire engines, and 15 aircraft continue to battle the flames.
"Tonight fire crews will try to take advantage of the lower temperatures to increase suppression and hold current containment lines," Cal Fire said.
While no casualties have yet been reported, the fires which have been raging throughout Northern California since July 27, have already destroyed 75 residences and are currently threatening another 11,300 structures. With mandatory evacuations in place in parts of Mendocino and Lake Counties authorities warn that only 30 percent of the blaze has been contained so far.
The Mendocino Complex fire surpassed the Thomas fire, which ripped through 281,000 acres in southern California last year.
Comment: Seven of California's 10 largest fires on record have occurred since 2000, including last year's Thomas fire, which was, prior to the Mendocino Complex fire, the largest blaze in the state's recorded history.
See also: California battling 17 large wildfires, already spent one-fourth of annual fire budget in July and Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: Planet wide forest and wildfires - where does it go from here?