California fires bring more chopper rescues, power shutoffs

By MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ and CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press
SHAVER LAKE, Calif. (AP) — Helicopters are rescuing more people from the California wildfires as flames chew through bone-dry terrain after a scorching Labor Day weekend. The latest rescues come after a dramatic weekend airlift of more than 200 people. The California National Guard says three early morning helicopter flights pulled another 35 people from the Sierra National Forest. California has already set a record with 2 million acres (809,000 hectares) burned this year. And the worst part of the wildfire season is just beginning. The state’s largest utility turned off power to 172,000 customers to try to prevent more blazes.