Erratic winds fanned a wildfire burning through rugged hills in northern California on Wednesday, pushing the flames across two counties 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.
The California department of forestry and fire protection said early Wednesday that the fire expanded across 26 square miles and crews had the flames 6% contained, a slight uptick from Tuesday evening’s figure. 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.
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.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation.