Alva Review-Courier -

VACAVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Crews worked in blistering heat Wednesday to beat back wildfires that ignited across Northern California, sending thousands of people from their homes into smoky air, briefly halting traffic on an interstate and killing a pilot on a firefighting mission.

Hundreds of fires were burning across California, including 23 major fires or groups of fires that Gov. Gavin Newsom blamed on "extraordinary weather" and "all of these lightning strikes." He said the state has recorded nearly 11,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours and knows of 367 fires.

Five to seven people were injure...