California

13 Hikers Rescued as 16 Large Wildfires Rage in California

The group was spotted by helicopter two miles from the blaze in Placer County near Sacramento. A Santa Barbara County blaze has topped 20,000 acres.
13 Hikers Rescued as 16 Large Wildfires Rage in California
The French Fire burns a hillside above Mariposa, Calif., on July 5, 2024. Noah Berger/AP Photo
Jill McLaughlin
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Placer County search crews located 13 backpackers July 8 in the Tahoe National Forest as fire crews raced to extinguish one of the 16 large wildfires burning in California.

The Royal Fire started just after 4 p.m. Sunday in the Royal Gorge area of Placer County, located in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains around Lake Tahoe.

Jill McLaughlin
Jill McLaughlin
Author
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.