Light Rain Helps Crews Gain on El Dorado Forest Fire
Light rainfall and dying winds gave weary firefighters a boost Friday and allowed them to gain 50% containment of a 23,000-acre fire burning in the El Dorado National Forest, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Art Colson said.
Two men killed Thursday in the crash of a tanker plane fighting the fire were identified as pilot Charles Sheridan, 54, of Porterville, a veteran tanker aviator, and 35-year-old Exeter resident Leonard Martin.
The blaze was expected to keep U.S. 50 closed through the weekend for 45 miles between Placerville and South Lake Tahoe.
Six houses and 20 summer cottages have been destroyed by the fire.
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