Skip to main content

Northeast California wildfire destroys 8 homes

By WTOP Staff

BURNEY, Calif. (AP) — Two wildfires burning about 8 miles apart in northeast California have become the focus of state and federal firefighters.

Authorities say one of the blazes has destroyed eight homes and has prompted the evacuation of a small long-term care hospital.

The fires started within a day of each other in Lassen National Forest and had expanded into private property and scorched nearly 95 square miles as of Sunday evening, up from 39 square miles a day earlier.

The more destructive fire of the two is threatening the town of Burney, where officials at Mayer Memorial Hospital decided to evacuate their 49-bed annex for patients with dementia and other conditions requiring skilled nursing.

Evacuations also remain in effect for a community on the edge of the second fire, which was sparked by lightning Wednesday. Officials say about 40 homes are at risk.

There are 12 other wildfires in central and Northern California.

%@AP Links

053-a-07-(Marcy Schmidt, resident in interview)-“to bug out”-Hat Creek resident Marcy Schmidt is one of those who defied evacuation orders. COURTESY: KRCR TV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (4 Aug 2014)

<

051-a-10-(Roger Sleight (slyt), Hat Creek resident, in interview)-“fuel is gone”-Hat Creek resident Roger Sleight says he and his wife have been helping firefighters. COURTESY: KRCR TV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (4 Aug 2014)

<

052-a-12-(Captain Eric Oliveri, OES Strike Team, in interview)-“to this area”-OES Strike Team Captain Eric Oliveri says more fire lines have been created when air attack tankers dropped retardant and back burning operations eliminated fuels. COURTESY: KRCR TV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (4 Aug 2014)

<

080-a-07-(Sergeant John Green, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, in AP interview Sunday)-“the evacuated center”-Shasta County Sheriff’s Sergeant John Green says his office has been assisting fire officials by getting people out of harm’s way. (4 Aug 2014)

<

078-a-08-(Sergeant John Green, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, in AP interview Sunday)-“are ravine areas”-Shasta County Sheriff’s Sergeant John Green says the wildfire is in a rural area. (4 Aug 2014)

<

079-a-10-(Sergeant John Green, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, in AP interview Sunday)-“in the area”-Shasta County Sheriff’s Sergeant John Green says it’s not unheard of to have wildfires in the region. (4 Aug 2014)

<

APPHOTO CARED201: Smoke rises from a fire in Burney, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014. A pair of wildfires burning without restraint about 8 miles apart in northeast California became the focus of state and federal firefighters as authorities reported that one of the blazes had destroyed eight homes and prompted the precautionary evacuation of a small long-term care hospital. (AP Photo/Record Searchlight, Clay Duda) (3 Aug 2014)

<

APPHOTO RPLL201: This image provided by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office shows fire burning in the French Fire, Sunday Aug. 3, 2014 in Madera, Calif. A pair of wildfires, including the French Fire, burning without restraint about 8 miles apart in northeast California became the focus of state and federal firefighters Sunday as authorities reported that one of the blazes had destroyed eight homes and prompted the precautionary evacuation of a small long-term care hospital. (AP Photo/Madera County Sheriff’s Office) (3 Aug 2014)

<

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote