Rain Calms California Fire That Jumped Freeway, Burned Cars

(AP) - A wildfire that swept across a California freeway, torching vehicles and sending people running for their lives, is nearly contained.

Firefighters working along Interstate 15 in the mountainous Cajon Pass got help from rain that moved in over the weekend, and by Monday the blaze was 95 percent contained. The freeway is open in both directions.

The wind-driven fire started Friday about 55 miles northeast of Los Angeles. It raced up a hill and onto the traffic-clogged freeway.

The flames destroyed 20 vehicles on the interstate before heading into the community of Baldy Mesa, where it burned seven homes and destroyed 44 more vehicles.

The fire burned about 6 1/2 square miles.

One firefighter was badly burned when he stepped on a pile of embers and sank thigh-deep into the ash. He's expected to recover, but it could take months.