LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters continued their efforts overnight to fully contain both the Rocky and Jerusalem fires.
As of Monday night, the Rocky fire remained at 69,636 acres and 85-percent containment, with the Jerusalem fire at 6,000 acres with no estimated containment, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said it anticipates having the Rocky fire – which began on July 29 – fully contained on Thursday.
Estimated containment on the Jerusalem fire, which began on Sunday afternoon in the Jerusalem Valley area northeast of Middletown, is expected on Aug. 17, Cal Fire said.
Still assigned to the Rocky fire on Monday night were resources including 1,344 personnel, 45 engines, 36 fire crews, 10 water tenders, six dozers and two helicopters, according to Cal Fire.
The agency said firefighters were quickly demobilized from the Rocky fire to the new Jerusalem fire, which is burning south of the Rocky fire perimeter.
The Jerusalem fire's quick growth resulted in mandatory evacuations for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove beginning on Sunday, with advisory evacuations issued on Monday, as Lake County News has reported. The full list of evacuations and advisories is at http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1193 .
Altogether, the fire is threatening 50 structures, Cal Fire said. An evacuation shelter remains open at Middletown High School.
By Monday night, the Jerusalem fire had nearly as many resources committed to it, with Cal Fire reporting that 1,122 personnel, 83 fire engines, 32 fire crews, 23 dozers, 18 water tenders and 17 helicopters were assigned.
Radio reports indicated that throughout the night new fire crews and resources were continuing to arrive to work on the Jerusalem fire.
Firefighters were reported to be working on structure defense in areas along Morgan Valley Road and in Jericho Valley, according to reports from the scene.
Erratic winds were proving a challenge for firefighters overnight. Cal Fire said the winds were contributing to the increased fire activity and promoting high intensity runs with short range spotting.
Overnight, firefighters were reporting wind speeds of about 10 to 15 miles per hour on ridge tops, with winds coming from the west northwest. Scanner reports early Tuesday morning indicated higher humidity and dropping wind speeds, which later were anticipated to pick up again, with a change in wind direction to north northwest.
While the Rocky incident is nearing full containment, Cal Fire warned that several small flare ups may still be seen within the fire's interior.
That was the case late Monday and early Tuesday, when firefighters received reports of a flare up along Highway 16, based on radio reports.
Firefighters investigating the reports stated over the air that they found a burning log about six miles from the Cal Fire Wilbur Springs fire station on Highway 16.
At one point on Monday evening, radio reports indicated that a search was on for four hunters near the fire areas. The hunters later were safely found.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Aggressive firefighting efforts continue overnight on Rocky, Jerusalem fires
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On