Slowing winds and cooler temperatures across Northern California have given firefighters a break overnight, but forecasters say gusts could whip up wildfires again Wednesday.

The blazes have already destroyed or damaged dozens of homes and left a firefighter severely burned.

The fires are concentrated in areas north and south of the state capital, Sacramento, while separate blazes burn near the coast.

A 2.5-square-mile wildfire that destroyed 21 homes and about 30 other structures in Palermo is about 50 percent contained. The community is about 60 miles north of Sacramento.

Several fires along Interstate 5 in Stockton damaged or destroyed 30 homes before they were extinguished yesterday.

Grass, brush and trees are in matchstick condition across California after the driest March, April and May on record.