Fifth Firefighter Dies Of Wildfire Burns

California - A fifth U.S. Forest Service firefighter died Tuesday of burns suffered when an engine crew was overrun by a Southern California wildfire, while investigators searched for the arsonist who set the blaze that burned 63 square miles.

Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley, died at 5:08 p.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, Jeanne Wade Evans, the San Bernardino National Forest supervisor, said at a news conference outside the hospital. A group of Forest Service firefighters with tears in their eyes stood behind her.

"I felt the faith and hope for Pablo's recovery and actually felt a miracle might be possible," she said. "Today more sadness is added to our almost unbearable grief."

Cerda was burned over 90 percent of his body Thursday as he and the crew of Engine 57 tried to protect a home from wind-driven flames in the San Jacinto Mountains about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. Three other crew members died at the scene and Cerda's captain died soon after at a hospital.