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Evacuations lifted, California fire now 20 percent contained

By Associated Press
Published: August 31, 2016, 10:57am
4 Photos
A firefighter lights grass on fire as firefighters perform a firing operation along Interlake Road while battling the Chimney Fire in Southern Monterey County on Aug. 23. The fire started south of Nacimiento Reservoir in San Luis Obispo County.
A firefighter lights grass on fire as firefighters perform a firing operation along Interlake Road while battling the Chimney Fire in Southern Monterey County on Aug. 23. The fire started south of Nacimiento Reservoir in San Luis Obispo County. (David Royal/The Monterey County Herald via AP) Photo Gallery

BANNING, Calif. — Crews increased containment of a wildfire that sent about 700 people scrambling from their homes east of Los Angeles.

Officials said the blaze in Riverside County grew slightly to nearly 2 square miles and is 20 percent contained Wednesday.

All evacuation orders, most of which were from a mobile home park, were canceled late Tuesday.

The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon and moved quickly through tinder-dry brush.

Two people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

An assisted living center with 10 seniors had to be evacuated as flames came within about 300 yards.

Officials did not give a cause, but said they were seeking witnesses to the activities of children near the gate to a nature park where the fire started.

To the southwest, crews in Orange County were making water drops over a 20-acre brush fire that broke out just before dawn Tuesday in the Cleveland National Forest. No structures were threatened.

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