Rain, humidity help Calif. wildfire effort

BIG SUR, Calif., July 14 (UPI) -- California firefighters welcomed rains and higher humidity Monday as they fought one of the state's biggest remaining wildfires near Big Sur.

A marine layer bringing lower wind speeds and moisture from the Pacific Ocean moved into Northern California Sunday, encouraging crews battling the Basin Complex Fire, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"We have a good marine layer pushing in," Jason Meyer, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the newspaper. "The fire's kind of laying down a little bit; it's giving us some time to work."

The Basin Complex fire has burned more than 117,000 acres and destroyed 27 homes and 32 other buildings, but by Sunday was 61 percent contained. Meyer said officials now think it will be fully controlled by the end of the month.

The latest weather concern in the California has become mudslides brought on by heavy weekend rains in some areas. Firefighters fear they could hinder their efforts to reach stubborn fires.