Angelo Coast Range Reserve is the primary field site and home base for the Eel River CZO.   Dry lightning started a wildfire north of the Reserve on July 30th.   As of this posting, the Lodge Lightning Complex fire grown to cover 4,000 acres and is only 20% contained.  1,200 personnel, 100 fire engines, 28 bulldozers, and 14 helicopters are mobilized to fight this fire. 

The fire is burning in heavy timber in the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness and Eel River Canyon areas. The steep rugged terrain makes access difficult. Due to severe drought conditions and accessibility challenges, the fire continues to grow.

The south and western edges have bulldozed fire breaks along the ridges.  These are holding. The Reserve and its neighbor's buildings are behind these breaks. The wind has been unusually calm and unseasonal cloudiness has reduced temperatures - both slowing the expansion of the fire. So far this has been a ground fire with almost no crown outbreaks.  CalFire personnel and Reserve Steward, Peter Steel, are cautiously optimistic.