SACRAMENTO – Two whales that took a wrong turn and swam 90 miles inland to California's capital were heading back toward the Pacific Ocean yesterday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The humpback mother and her calf – nicknamed Delta and Dawn by the state's lieutenant governor – started moving southwest on the Sacramento River at about 3:30 p.m., officials said.
The wayward pair were being followed by nine vessels carrying Coast Guard officers and wildlife officials to make sure they did not reverse course.
No one is certain why the whales decided to change course, but Jim Oswald of the Marine Mammal Center said the pair may have been spurred to follow tug boats that fired up about 100 yards away from them.
–Associated Press
Fire crews close to containing 2 blazes
GORMAN – Firefighters got close to containing a wildfire yesterday that chased thousands of campers from the Angeles National Forest and prompted the evacuation of a handful of homes and more than 3,000 people from campsites at a state off-road recreation area.
The 2,500-acre blaze, about 70 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, was 85 percent surrounded and crews projected full containment by early today, said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mike Brown. The 200 firefighters on the lines were being helped by low evening temperatures.
Elsewhere, a wildfire that had threatened homes and other structures in two northern Arizona forests was 80 percent contained and 21 evacuees were allowed home yesterday. Officials projected full containment of the 6-square-mile Promontory fire by tomorrow.
–Associated Press
Runner, 53, dies at finish of S.F. race
SAN FRANCISCO – A 53-year-old man died at the finish line of the annual Bay to Breakers race yesterday after running the 7.46-mile course through the city. The man collapsed just after 9 a.m. along the finish line at Ocean Beach. His name and other details were not released.
In 2003, Nicholas Ng, 28, died from dehydration in Golden Gate Park, and entrants have died during the race in 1995, 1996, and 1997.
–Associated Press
