Western Wildfires Update: Evacuations Ordered as Northern California Blaze Surges

Associated Press
Published: August 12,2015

The wildfire raging in Lake County, California, has spread to neighboring Napa County, Cal Fire reported Wednesday evening
At least 150 residents were pushed from their homes in the Hidden Valley area in Lake County earlier this week, according to SFGate.com. Many of those who were forced out by the advancing Jerusalem fire were also evacuated a week ago when the Rocky fire threatened their properties.
On Tuesday, Cal Fire officials confirmed to News 10 ABC that the two fires have merged. They're hopeful that firefighting efforts will be made easier by the wildfires merging because now the two fires will be managed by a single incident command, the report added.
(MORE: Why You Need a Severe Weather Plan for Outdoor Events)
SFGate.com also said cooler weather has been helping crews battle the fires, but unpredictable winds have added a challenge to the firefight. The blazes are being pushed away from populated areas, the report added, but the infernos are moving into areas with bad access because of steep terrain.
According to Cal Fire, the Jerusalem fire has burned at least 20,500 acres and is 16 percent contained, and fire crews expect to have it fully contained by Monday. The Rocky fire has burned nearly 70,000 acres and is 88 percent contained.
No homes have been destroyed in the Jerusalem fire and no injuries have been reported, but 43 homes and 53 outbuildings have been destroyed by the Rocky fire. Both fires remain under investigation.
Here's a rundown of several large fires currently burning across the West.

Idaho-Oregon 

A blaze in southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon fanned by shifting winds quickly grew to 185 square miles, causing about 50 homes to be under an evacuation notice and burning key sage grouse habitat.
The fire blew across U.S. Highway 95 and moved a mile and a half in 8 minutes, said fire spokeswoman Carrie Bilbao of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The road later reopened.
With no sign of the fire dying down, Owyhee County Sheriff officials sent an evacuation order. As of 3:30 p.m., roughly 30 homes had been evacuated, with that number expected to rise later in the day.
There were no reports of injuries, and just one structure has been lost in the sparsely populated area. No cause has been determined for the fire was about 20 percent contained.
About 40 square miles of the fire is in Oregon.
Authorities are expected to decide this fall whether sage grouse need federal protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Habitat loss is a key consideration.
Elsewhere in Idaho, lighting strikes in forests have started numerous fires. Most have been quickly contained.

California

A wildfire north of San Francisco has charred 26 square miles and was only 6 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
At least 150 people have been evacuated, and many more were advised to voluntarily leave their homes as the fire chews through dry timber and brush.
Elsewhere in the state, evacuation orders were lifted as crews increased containment of a small wildfire sparked by a burning motor home in rural Riverside County that left one person burned.

Washington

A wildfire burning near Spokane has scorched 150 acres, and evacuations are in effect.
Department of Natural Resource officials say the fire is threatening 15 to 20 structures, including homes, and residents should be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

Montana

High temperatures and low humidity caused the rapid growth of a new wildfire in a remote part of Glacier National Park.
Park officials say the blaze burned almost 18 square miles and was threatening the Upper Nyack cabin, a historic patrol cabin. Some trails and campsites were closed.