Crews Battling Huge California Wildfire Brace for Weather Shift

SAN FRANCISCO — Crews battling a huge Northern California wildfire threatening thousands of homes braced for hotter temperatures and erratic winds Monday after cooler, wet weather helped them make progress over the weekend. The fire east of Sacramento had burned through 137 square miles as of Monday morning, an increase of about 9 square miles from the day before. The expected weather shift could increase fire activity, fire spokesman Ryan Lubben said. More than 5,000 firefighters — from as far as Florida and Alaska — managed to increase containment of the fire from 10 to 17 percent Sunday, said Capt. Tom Piranio, a state fire spokesman. It was 18 percent contained Monday morning. "The heavy drizzle helped the firefighters immensely," he said. Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37, pleaded not guilty to arson Friday in connection with the fire and remains in jail on $10 million bail.

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— The Associated Press