As of Wednesday, the Oak Fire in Mariposa County had burned through more than 29 square miles (75 square kilometers) of trees and brush, with 32 percent containment, Cal Fire said. At least 74 houses and other structures have been destroyed. Fire spokesman Chris Garcia said about 3,800 people had been allowed to return to their homes as of Tuesday. About 2,200 residents remain under evacuation orders. Ground crews with air support took a break from increased humidity and cooler temperatures as monsoon moisture moved into the Sierra Nevada foothills earlier this week. “They’re definitely making good progress,” Garcia said of firefighters working in steep, rugged terrain. Officials were investigating the cause of the fire that started last Friday southwest of the park, near the town of Midpines. California has experienced increasingly larger and deadlier wildfires in recent years as climate change has made the West much hotter and drier over the past 30 years. Scientists said the weather will continue to be more extreme and wildfires more frequent, destructive and unpredictable.
