By Dan Whitcomb and Keith Coffman LOS ANGELES/DENVER (Reuters) - Firefighters in Northern California have made progress on a stubborn blaze west of Sacramento, officials said on Thursday, allowing some residents to return to their homes after they were evacuated. In Colorado, meanwhile, firefighters were still battling eight major blazes that have burned over 140,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 homes, while authorities have arrested a person suspected of starting the largest blaze in that drought-stricken state. "The weather will become hotter and drier into the weekend and fire growth potential remains high." The so-called County Fire had consumed 86,000 acres (35,000 hectares) of grass, brush and dense scrub oak as of early Thursday, Cal Fire said.



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