Firefighters gain ground as Northern California wildfire grows

Firefighters made significant progress overnight on two massive blazes scorching thousands of acres north of Napa.

The Jerusalem fire grew by 3,000 acres to 23,500 acres Thursday, but firefighters were working aggressively to stop the flames from moving forward, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The blaze burning near Middletown in Lake and Napa counties is 33% contained. At least 150 people remain evacuated.

Further north, firefighters battling the 69,438-acre Rocky fire near Clearlake have nearly contained the blaze that burned across three counties.

Flames are burning in isolated pockets of smoldering brush inside the fire line, Cal Fire said, but the fire is 95% contained.

The progress overnight is noteworthy because forecasters say Northern Californians could expect triple-digit temperatures through the weekend.

Temperatures will be 10 degrees warmer Saturday than Friday as a high-pressure system continues to build, according to the weather service.

Gusty winds are expected over the Sierra crest as drier and warmer conditions persist through the weekend.

More than 11,000 firefighters are battling 16 blazes burning in California. The Rocky fire is the largest.

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