Evacuations lifted near California wildfire | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Evacuations lifted near California wildfires

OROVILLE, Calif. — Thousands of people evacuated from a wildfire in Northern California were allowed to return home Thursday afternoon as crews continued to battle the flames in scorching heat, authorities said.

Containment of the Thompson Fire near the town of Oroville in Butte County has also increased from 7% to 29%.

The “vast majority” of the 17,000 people who were under evacuation orders or warnings have been able to return home, said Butte County public information officer Kristi Olio. Earlier reports of 26,000 people under orders or warnings were inaccurate, she said, adding that the fire grew so quickly that accurate numbers have been difficult to come by.

The Thompson Fire broke out about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Sacramento before noon Tuesday, sending up a huge plume of smoke visible from space. The fire has burned 6 square miles (15 square kilometers), up from 5.5 square miles (14 square kilometers) earlier Thursday.

“The winds are slowly picking up,” said Chris Peterson, public information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. “Add to that the heat and low humidity,” and the risk of unstable fire behavior increases.

Four structures were destroyed and more than 12,000 others were threatened.

Four firefighters reported injuries, all due to heat. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Former engineer charged in plane crash

OXFORD, Miss. — A former engineer at a U.S. military air logistics center has been charged with making false statements and obstructing justice during the criminal investigation into a 2017 military plane crash in Mississippi that killed all 16 service members on board, prosecutors said Wednesday.

James Fisher, 67, was arrested Tuesday after a federal grand jury in northern Mississippi indicted him, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner.

The statement said Fisher is a former chief propulsion engineer at Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Warner Robins, Georgia. Fisher, who now lives in Portugal, made an initial court appearance in Jacksonville, Florida.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in northern Mississippi said she had no information Wednesday whether Fisher was represented by an attorney.

Fifteen Marines and a Navy medic were killed July 10, 2017, when the Marine Corps KC-130T transport plane broke into pieces in midair and crashed into a soybean field near Itta Bena, Mississippi.

The indictment alleges that Fisher knowingly withheld engineering documents and made false statements to investigators about his engineering decisions that may have been related to the accident, according to Joyner's news release.

Fisher faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of two counts of making false statements and two counts of obstruction of justice.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the crash.

Shark attacks 4 swimmers in Texas

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas — Shark attacks disrupted Fourth of July celebrations Thursday on South Padre Island as two people were taken to the hospital with bites, at least one serious, authorities said.

Police were called to the attack on the man, who was severely bitten around 11 a.m., according to South Padre Island City Clerk Nikki Soto. He was initially treated on the beach by firefighters and police.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department later said in a statement that two people were bitten and two others had “encountered” the shark but were not seriously injured. One of the bite victims was taken to a Brownsville hospital, and the other was “airlifted for further treatment.”

Based on witness accounts and images posted on social media, game warden Capt. Chris Dowdy said authorities believe a shark about 6 feet long was responsible for the incident.

58 hot dogs in 10 minutes wins the title

NEW YORK — Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago gobbled up 58 hot dogs to win his first men's title Thursday at the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

Bertoletti, 39, beat 13 competitors from around the world in a test to see who could gobble up the most hot dogs in 10 minutes.

“I wasn't going to stop eating until the job was done,” Bertoletti said.

Bertoletti broke his previous record of 55 hot dogs at the event, held every Independence Day on New York's Coney Island.

Bertoletti's victory marks the first time since 2015 that the mustard belt has gone to someone other than Joey “Jaws” Chestnut.

Chestnut was scheduled to compete Thursday at the Fort Bliss military post in El Paso. The contest centered around the traditional frankfurter, and Chestnut was to attempt to outeat four soldiers in five minutes.

On Thursday morning, defending champion Miki Sudo of Florida won her 10th title in the women's division. The 38-year-old dental hygiene student consumed 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes and set a new women's world record.

“I’m just happy to be able to say it’s mine for another year,” Sudo said after winning her 10th pink belt.