Erratic winds pose fresh threat to firefighters as rain helps with Mojave desert fire

A brief downpour helped crews on the ground, but experts warn they could face unstable wind conditions that could blow fire back at them

Firefighters have managed to partially contain a giant wildfire in the Mojave desert that scorched tens of thousands of acres of scrub and sent smoke across the Las Vegas Strip.

The York fire was mapped at roughly 125 sq miles (323.7 sq km) on Tuesday, with 23% containment, making it the largest wildfire of the season in California.