UPDATE 10:35 P.M.: Jerusalem fire is now at 25,054 acres and is 71 percent contained. Four homes have been destroyed, along with 13 outbuildings.
UPDATE 6:58 A.M.: Just confirmed from Cal Fire the Jerusalem Fire is now 24,555 acres and 52 percent contained. The Rocky Fire remains 69,438,438 acres and 95 percents contained.
UPDATE 6:09 P.M.: The fire is now at 24,000 acres and is 50 percent contained.
UPDATE 4:53 P.M.: The 23,500-acre Jerusalem Fire in Lake County has burned a small area of the northernmost tip of Napa County near Knoxville, a Cal Fire spokesman said.
“It crossed into Napa County late Wednesday afternoon or early this morning,” Cal Fire spokesman Steve Swindle said.
Full containment is expected Monday, Cal Fire said.
The bulk of the Jerusalem Fire is circling around and burning into the 69,438-acre Rocky Fire to the north in Lake County, Swindle said. The Rocky Fire is 95 percent contained.
The temperature in the fire area is expected to reach triple digits this weekend, Swindle said.UPDATE:
Cal Fire has confirmed the Jerusalem fire has made good progress overnight. Currently, the fire is now at 23,500 acres and 33 percent contained.
As for the Rocky fir, that fire is now at 69,438 acres and 95 percent contained.
LAKE COUNTY (KRON, AP) — Crews in Lake County continue to battle a fast-moving wildfire in Lake County that has now swelled to 20,500 acres and is 16 percent contained.
At least 150 people have been evacuated from their homes as erratic winds Wednesday fanned a wildfire burning through rugged hills in Northern California and pushed the flames across two counties.
Many in the region about 100 miles north of San Francisco had only recently returned to their homes after fleeing an earlier blaze.
Crews lit backfires Wednesday along a road elsewhere in the region as plumes of black and white smoke rose into the sky.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the fire had expanded across 32 square miles and crews had the flames just 16 percent contained. Full containment wasn’t expected until Monday.
The fire began in dry timber and brush Sunday several miles from the community of Lower Lake. It leaped from Lake County into Napa County, but no vineyards were threatened in the famous wine-growing region.
Empire Mini Storage manager Desiree Mcalear said the business in Middletown has had numerous calls and visits from people who want to rent units in case they have to evacuate.
“They’re absolutely scared and terrified,” she said. “If the winds decide to blow this way, then we all need to take action. Right now, we have the luxury of waiting and being patient.”
More than 2,000 firefighters were battling the blaze that was threatening 50 structures. No homes have been destroyed, and no injuries have been reported.
Mandatory Evacuations are in place for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove. This includes Tinilyn Road, Nicholas Way, Jaclyn Road, June Bug Drive, Jerusalem Grade, Jerusalem Valley Road, Jerusalem Road, W Jerusalem Road, Canyon Road, Coon Flat Road, Daly Place and Morgan Valley Road from the Reiff Road intersection east to the Napa County Line and Reiff Road from the Morgan Valley Road intersection east to the Yolo County Line. Fire and emergency vehicles will be working in the area.
Advisory Evacuations are issued for Grange Road from Luchetti Ranch Road east to Bucksnort Creek, Butts Canyon Road from Bucksnort Creek east to the Napa County Line.
Evacuation centers have been set up at Kelseyville High School. And there is an animal evacuation center at Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection (LEAP).
Road Closures: Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road, Morgan Valley Road from Reiff Road southeast to Napa County Line, Reiff Road from Morgan Valley east to Yolo County Line and Berryessa Knoxville Road closed from Lake Berryessa north (per Napa County Sheriff)
Meanwhile, firefighters have nearly surrounded a larger nearby blaze that started about two weeks ago and destroyed 43 homes.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation.
Temperatures have been relatively mild, but the gusty winds and dry conditions have stoked the wildfires.
The Rocky Fire is at 69,600 acres and is 95 percent contained.
Statewide, 16 active wildfires were burning and being fought by more than 11,000 firefighters.