Rain helps increase containment of huge California wildfire

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A major storm that battered western Alaska over the weekend has churned through Northern California after bringing early-season snow to mountains and dropping rain that helped firefighters increase containment of a huge wildfire. Snow and ice in the eastern Sierra Nevada led officials to close State Route 108 high up over the Sonora Pass. The 119-square-mile Mosquito Fire in Sierra foothills northeast of Sacramento is 38% contained after downpours on Sunday, allowing sheriff’s officials in two counties to lift or downgrade some evacuation orders. Scattered rain is expected throughout Monday from Sacramento north to Redding