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Jerusalem Fire In Lake County Grows To 22 Square Miles, Only 5 Percent Contained

LOWER LAKE (CBS/AP) — The Jerusalem Fire in Lake County grew Tuesday, prompting more evacuations, many of them residents who had recently returned home after a nearby massive blaze first threatened their homes.

The wildfire had charred almost 22 square miles by Tuesday evening. It was 5 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

The fire, which erupted Sunday several miles from the community of Lower Lake, almost more than doubled in size overnight despite cooler temperatures and higher humidity.

For the second time in as many weeks, residents had to evacuate their homes because of the uncontained fire lighting up rocky hills about 100 miles north of San Francisco.

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 Rocky Fire, the larger nearby blaze that started about two weeks ago and has burned 109 square miles. That fire destroyed 43 homes. 

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