California Wildfire That Erupted Near Massive Blaze Expands

A wildfire that erupted near a destructive blaze in Northern California’s rural, rocky hills expanded farther.

The blaze had burned 9 square miles by Monday afternoon, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. It broke out several miles away from the community of Lower Lake Sunday afternoon and quickly spread.

Evacuations have been ordered for the fire that ignited Sunday and doubled in size overnight.

Authorities couldn’t say how many homes were evacuated or how many people were told to be prepared to flee. Containment of the fire about 100 miles north of San Francisco was not in sight.

Firefighters and air tankers battling the bigger nearby fire were reassigned to attack the new blaze. No homes have been destroyed and no injuries have been reported.

Meanwhile, firefighters have nearly surrounded the larger blaze that started about two weeks ago and burned 109 square miles.

That fire destroyed 43 homes, but all evacuations have been lifted. Students in the Middletown Unified School District could start classes next Tuesday, but it might be later depending on where the fire burns.

Fire officials are investigating the causes of both fires. There have been five arson arrests related to smaller fires in five weeks.

Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire