The death toll from the wildfires in California has continued to rise, with eight fatalities reported — two fire crew members in the Ferguson fire near Yosemite and six people in the Carr fire in and around Redding. Among the six were a 70-year-old woman and her two great-grandchildren, whom she tried to save with a wet blanket. Across the state, about 12,000 firefighters are battling 17 blazes. With many fires burning near populated areas, resources are spread thin, and engines have been summoned from as far away as Florida. But officials did express some hope in battling the Carr fire, which has also destroyed more than 870 structures: Cooler temperatures and increased humidity should give firefighters a chance to contain more of it.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 30, 2018 12:00 UTC