MENDOCINO COUNTY — Cal Fire reports a firefighter assigned to the Mendocino Complex fires has died.
A press conference held Monday night confirmed the firefighter from Utah was injured while battling the Ranch Fire. He died after being flown to a local hospital.
Officials identified the firefighter as 42-year-old Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett, from Draper City, Utah.
This is the first reported death linked to the Ranch and River fires.
By Monday evening, the River Fire was 100 percent contained at 48,920 acres while crews were still trying to get a handle on the Ranch Fire, which has burned 300,970 acres. The Mendocino Complex has already become the largest fire in California’s history and has destroyed 146 homes.
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