California firefighters gain ground against big wildfires after hot, windy weekend

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters have increased containment of a large wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles after a weekend of explosive growth along Interstate 5. The Post Fire is 8% surrounded Monday after scorching more than 24 square miles and forcing the evacuation of at least 1,200 peoples from a recreation area on Saturday. The fire broke out as weather turned hot and windy in a region where grasses spawned by a rainy winter have long since dried out and are ready to burn. Meanwhile in Northern California, a wildfire sparked Sunday near Lake Sonoma is 20% surrounded after charring nearly 2 square miles.