Firefighters Begin to Leave as Containment on the Rim Fire Reaches 60%

Firefighters have now battled the Rim Fire to sixty percent containment, in California.

The fire has burnt over two hundred and twenty-nine thousand acres, including forty-nine thousand in Yosemite National Park.

Over five thousand firefighters had been battling the blaze, but their numbers have now been lowered to forty-six hundred.

One hundred and eleven buildings, including thirty-one homes, have been lost to the flames.

Forty-five hundred homes and a thousand other buildings lie with a mandatory evacuation area, that is threatened by the blaze.

Hopes are that continued containment will allow for some evacuations to be lifted soon.

Winds continue to drown nearby towns in smoke, making breathing difficult.

However, the winds changed directions, blowing the fire back on itself, that combined with lower temperatures and higher humidity aided in battling the fire.

Yosemite National Park has remained opened, the main part of the park lies more than twenty miles away and authorities say that it is not in any danger.

3 Injured in Maryland Plane Crash

Three people were injured when their plane crashed near Bowie, Maryland.

Monday afternoon's crash took place just off of Highway 50.

Two of the three were critically injured in the accident.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

Traffic on Highway 50 was backed up for hours, due to the incident.

Taliban Attacks US Base in Afghanistan

Heavily armed militants attack a US and NATO base in eastern Afghanistan, on Monday.

The attack lasted for more than three hours, before all of the militants were killed or committed suicide.

No NATO or US troops were injured during the battle.

A dozen supply trucks were burnt and destroyed.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault.

US Army: Staff Sergeant Joshua J. Bowden

Staff Sergeant Joshua J. Bowden, twenty-eight of Villa Rica, Georgia, died on August 31.

He was killed in combat in Ghazni province Afghanistan.

It was his second deployment to Afghanistan.

Bowden was assigned to the 242 Ordnance Battalion, 71st Ordnance Group out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

His decorations include: Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor device, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachute Badge, Air Assault Badge, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge.