A man arrested Sunday night for setting an illegal backburn near the raging Jerusalem Fire told News10 he was just trying to protect his property because he doesn’t have insurance.
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Since Sunday evening, crews have been pulled from the tedious chore of extending the safe area around Rocky and directed toward a new threat not far away, the Jerusalem Fire. Fire’s spread has stopped; evacuations ended, containment increased from 45 percent over the weekend.
“The Rocky Fire containment continues to grow, and you may see several small flare ups within the interior”, Cal Fire said. Swindle said Tuesday’s temperatures should be somewhat cooler than average, which could help the effort.
McLean said the causes of the ongoing Rocky fire and the Jerusalem Fire remained under investigation and he declined to say whether officials consider either or both of the fires suspicious. Still working that fire are 1400 firefighters with 52 engines and other support equipment, but many battling that blaze have moved to the Jerusalem Fire. He spent eight hours in jail before posting $15,000 bail at 4 a.m. on Monday and later, with his daughter, he showed News10 the firebreak he had created. Morgan Valley Road is closed east of the intersection of Reiff Road to the Napa County line. And by Tuesday morning, the fire, which had charred 5,000 the day before, was not contained.
Mad River Complex: Multiple fires totalling 19,189 acres in Trinity County south of Highway 36 near Ruth Lake, 35 percent contained. A Mandatory evacuation is issued for the Jerusalem Valley area east of Spruce Grove.
An evacuation center has been set up at Middletown High School.
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“Firefighting resources are being demobilized from the Rocky Fire to the Jerusalem Fire”, Cal Fire said.
