Across the state

SAN JOSE — A former real estate agent was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison Thursday for stealing his clients’ identities to buy and sell property under their names, prosecutors said.

John Shaw, 47, was found guilty last year of 14 felony counts, including forgery, grand theft, identity theft, conspiracy, perjury and intimidating a witness.

Prosecutors said Shaw assumed the identities of at least five people, mostly his clients, purchased real estate in their names, then sold the property to other names he assumed. He pocketed more than $1 million in profits from the sales.

Shaw had an associate, Cheng Guo, assault a witness to keep him from testifying against him, said Assistant District Attorney Stephen Gibbons. Guo’s whereabouts are unknown. Shaw’s wife, Mary M. Wu, 31, also was convicted of one felony count of identity theft and was sentenced to three years probation.

Firefighters battle 13,878-acre blaze in Southern California

SANTA MARIA — Firefighters worked in hot, dry weather Thursday as they battled a blaze that has consumed more than 13,000 acres of chaparral, pine and grasslands in Los Padres National Forest.

A 10-mile-long swath of flames had threatened to roll over a ridgeline bordering a wilderness area that has larger trees and brush, but firefighters were able to hold their ground, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Joe Pasinato.

"Today was a key day,” said Pasinato. "The fire did not make any rapid advances.”

More than 1,000 firefighters, aided by five air tankers and eight helicopters, had contained about 43 percent of the Perkins Fire, which expanded to 13,878 acres as it burned southeast and away from the small town of New Cuyama, about 45 miles east of Santa Maria.

No injuries were reported and no homes were threatened.

Temperatures reached into the high 90s and winds were moderate at 15 mph.

The fire began about 1:30 p.m. Monday when a piece of metal blew into electrical wires, authorities said. Three trailers that belonged to an oil company and two sheds were destroyed.

The firefighting effort has cost more than $820,000, authorities said.

Smoke from the fire was lowering air quality in Santa Barbara County, prompting health officials to advise children, seniors and people with respiratory problems to stay indoors.

The Southern California fire season has started strong with 15 small brush fires charring pockets of the Angeles National Forest in recent days.

Authorities predicted that late spring rains would present only an average risk of wildfires this season.

Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday signed an order that directs the California Department of Forestry to seek additional staffing and resources to protect local communities from wildland fires.

"We are never as strong as when we work together. And with firefighters, government and the people on the same page for fire prevention and control, we will be ready for a safe California summer,” Schwarzenegger said.<