Tracy Porter of Paradise, Calif., uses an ax to fragment a burning tree damaged by the Eiler Fire in Lassen National Park near Hat Creek, Calif. Firefighters were focusing on two wildfires near each other in Northern California that have burned through more than 100 square miles of terrain. / Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP
BURNEY, Calif. (AP) - Fire officials say light rain and increased humidity helped crews make progress against two wildfires in a Northern California forest that are just miles apart and are threatening hundreds of homes.
The smaller of the two fires in the Lassen National Forest is within sight of the small Shasta County town of Burney, though officials said it remained about 4 miles away on Tuesday morning.
The Eiler Fire, which has burned through nearly 45 square miles, did not grow substantially overnight. Crews also increased containment from 10 to 20%.
The fire is threatening more than 700 homes, some of which have been evacuated.
The nearby Bald Fire has forced the evacuation of about a dozen homes. U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jim Mackensen says containment on that fire jumped from 20% to 30% overnight. The fire has burned through 62 square miles.
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