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ings and about 35 square miles of wildland since it started Monday.
• Crews focused on strengthening lines on the fire's stubborn north flank, where flames whipped through thick pine and fir forests in a steep, rugged area.
• "They're really trying to button up that line so they feel more secure about it holding," Grassel said.
• Firefighters' work allowed officials to lift some evacuation orders, although homeowners said they didn't feel out of danger yet. Unusually hot, dry, unstable weather was expected Friday and Saturday, with thunderstorms possible, Grassel said.
• ___

• MIAMI (AP) -- Araceli Cortes had made up her mind: After being brought to the U.S. as a child, graduating from high school and attending some college in California, she was going to return to Mexico to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
• She quit her job, bought an airline ticket and reserved a seat to take a medical school entrance exam.
• Then, a week before her departure, President Barack Obama announced that young illegal immigrants like Cortes would be given the chance to remain in the United States and obtain a work visa. Cortes canceled her ticket and decided to stay.
• This week, she and thousands of other immigrants began the application process. But she and many other student immigrants could face some tough obstacles.
• "It's not giving me much," Cortes, 20, said. "It's just a two-year permit."
• ___

• FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities were searching a stretch of the Merced River for a 6-year-old boy after his older brother died when a current swept them away during a family outing in Yosemite National Park.
• The boy is presumed dead. Other hikers pulled the body of his 10-year-old brother about 150 yards downstream from where family members had waded into the river to cool off Wednesday.
• Their mother was hospitalized with a back injury after being pulled from the river, park spokeswoman Kari Cobb said.

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