Rain helps crews expand control of King fire in Northern California

Much-needed rain from a weather system out of the Pacific Northwest helped give firefighters the upper hand overnight as they battle a series of wildfires across Northern California.

The storm dumped up to an inch of rain on the Eldorado National Forest region, where the King fire has been raging for more than two weeks, helping firefighters boost containment to 68%, officials reported Friday.

More than 7,700 firefighters have been battling the 97,009-acre wildfire, which has destroyed a dozens home and even more structures, since Sept. 13. Fire activity was minimal overnight with smoldering flames buried deep inside heavy vegetation, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

With the diminished fire activity and increased humidity, the fire was not expected to move much, allowing crews to strengthen containment lines and expand suppression efforts.

Isolated showers and stronger winds were expected Friday. Thunderstorms in some areas were also possible, according to the National Weather Service.

Meanwhile, the rain helped firefighters fully contain the 50,042-acre July Complex fire, which was burning in the Klamath National Forest.

Minimal activity was reported out of the state’s largest wildfire, the Happy Camp Complex fire, also in the Klamath National Forest. Lightning started the fires that make up the massive 132,733-acre fire last month. It was 94% contained on Friday.

The Meadow fire at Yosemite National Park just east of Half Dome in the Little Yosemite Valley is also nearly fully contained after scorching 4,772 acres.

Although the rain helped, authorities with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection say the “fire danger has not ended.”

A warming trend is expected this weekend, increasing the risk of fires next week, officials said.

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