LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Monday afternoon Cal Fire reported that the size of the Jerusalem fire remains unchanged.
"We're still calling it 5,000 acres," said Cal Fire spokesman Steve Swindle.
About 50 homes are threatened, he said, but so far none have been destroyed as the fire moves in an erratic easterly direction.
The fire is straying north toward the footprint of the Rocky fire and as far as approximately one mile south of Jerusalem Grade.
The fire is "blowing up quite a bit of smoke," resulting in a high volume of phone calls from Hidden Valley Lake, Swindle said. But, he added, "The fire has moved away from them," and "there is no evacuation advisory" for Hidden Valley Lake.
According to Cal Fire, mandatory evacuations remain in place for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove.
Jerusalem Valley Road is closed to all traffic at Spruce Grove Road due to Fire personnel and emergency vehicles working in the area.
Swindle cautioned that having an escape plan in place is the appropriate course of action due to the erratic nature of the wind. "Be prepared; don't sit and wait, have a plan."
Swindle recommended residents visit http://www.readyforwildfire.org/ and view the youtube video “Ready Set Go” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcf8FRAqUww to aid in preparations should conditions change.
An evacuation center is located at the Middletown High School and it can be contacted by telephone at 415-307-4503.
Crews are working aggressively to construct fire line and sustain perimeter control. Expect fire behavior to increase when prime burning conditions are present in the afternoon. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and and adhere to any changes in evacuation and road closures, Cal Fire advised.
Cal Fire has "pulled a lot of assets off Rocky to combat" the Jerusalem fire, Swindle said, which now has approximately 550 personnel on it.
Cooperating agencies on the Jerusalem fire include Cal Fire, Lake County Sheriff, Lake County Fire Resources, California National Guard, CDCR, CHP, USFSand BLM.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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