Northern California blaze spreads into Napa County; At least 150 people evacuated

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Erratic winds fanned a wildfire burning through rugged hills in Northern California on Wednesday, pushing the flames across a wide area and chasing at least 150 people from their homes.

Many in the region about 100 miles north of San Francisco had only recently returned after an earlier blaze threatened their homes.

Fire officials said early Wednesday that the fire expanded across 26 square miles (67 square kilometres) and crews had the flames 6 per cent contained. Full containment isn’t expected until Monday.

The fire erupted in dry timber and brush Sunday several miles from the community of Lower Lake. It leapt from Lake County into wine-famous Napa County, but no vineyards are threatened.

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More than 1,100 firefighters are battling the blaze that is threatening 50 structures. No homes have been destroyed, and no injuries have been reported.

Meanwhile, firefighters have nearly surrounded the larger nearby blaze that started about two weeks ago. That fire destroyed 43 homes.

While temperatures this past week have been relatively mild, it’s the gusty winds and the dry conditions that continue to allow wildfires to grow rapidly.

In Southern California, all evacuation orders have been lifted as crews have increased containment of a small wildfire sparked by a burning motor home in rural Riverside County.

Statewide, 16 active wildfires continue to burn in California, with more than 11,000 firefighters battling them.