Firefighters shield California town from flames as they gain against biggest blaze

Mosquito fire conditions looking a whole heck of a lot better' in state's north as dogs seek missing person in south

Firefighters prevented flames from entering a northern California mountain town and reported major progress on Thursday against the week-old blaze that's become the largest in the state so far this year.

Conditions at the Mosquito fire about 110 miles (177km) north-east of San Francisco were looking a whole heck of a lot better", according to a fire spokesman, Scott McLean.