California Wildfire Concerns Include Hotter Temperatures, Erratic Winds

Crews battling a huge Northern California wildfire are bracing for hotter temperatures and erratic winds.

Fire spokesman Ryan Lubben says cooler, wet weather that helped firefighters over the weekend were expected to give way today to a weather pattern that could increase fire activity.

The blaze east of Sacramento has burned through 137 square miles as of Monday morning. That’s an increase of about 9 square miles from the day before. It was 18 percent contained.

The fire has destroyed 10 homes around the community of Pollock Pines since it began Sept. 13. It is threatening 12,000 others, and has forced about 2,700 people from their homes.

A man charged with starting the fire, 37-year-old Wayne Allen Huntsman, pleaded not guilty to arson Friday.