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Woman relieved after 2 evacuations during California fires

Cal Fire reports significant progress on the Jerusalem fire near Clear Lake, even though it grew 7,500 acres Wednesday and Thursday. The Rocky Fire is 95 percent contained.

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Crews were focused on strengthening containment lines around the fire and crews had begun pushing into its interior to squelch hot spots, Cal Fire spokesman Steve Swindle said.

Mad River Complex: Seven fires totalling 21,955 acres in Trinity County south of Highway 36 near Ruth Lake, 505 percent contained. It continues to threaten 50 structures in Lake County in Northern California.

The Jerusalem Fire broke out Sunday and has burned thick brush and oak trees in Lake and Napa counties. It spread into Napa County, but no vineyards were threatened in the famous wine-growing region.

In central Idaho, a 600-acre fire 13 miles north of Crouch in timber is the largest of three fires started in that area when lightning moved through earlier this week.

Empire Mini Storage manager Desiree McAlear said the business in Middletown had received numerous calls and visits from people who wanted to rent units in case they had to evacuate.

One horse injured trying to escape flames has been euthanized, and officials said they were considering rounding up horses to keep in corrals near Boise until the range recovers and they can be released. “Right now, we have the luxury of waiting and being patient”.

The causes of both were under investigation.

Temperatures have been relatively mild, but gusty winds and dry conditions have stoked the flames of the fire near Lower Lake.

In Oregon, residents of 57 homes were under evacuation orders and dozens more were told to be ready to leave as two wildfires burned near Baker City.

The 16 major wildfires in California are being fought by 12,000 people.

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By Wednesday firefighters were able to contain the fire by 16 percent but fire officials expect that the battle to fully tamp out the blaze could last until.

Bad fire season running through US firefighting budget