Deaths From California Wildfires Rise To 8

Wednesday, November 7th 2007, 7:45 am

By: News On 6

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ A woman who was badly burned in a fire near the U.S.-Mexico border has died from her injuries, making her the eighth person to be killed directly by the wildfires that ravaged Southern California.

Maria Beltran, 27, of Vista, died Tuesday at the UCSD Regional Burn Center, said Investigator James Buckley of the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. Beltran was the mother of four children.

Seven other deaths involving evacuees fleeing the blazes have been indirectly linked to the fires.

Beltran's family thanked supporters for their ``kind thoughts and prayers'' in a statement and asked for privacy while they grieve the loss of their ``dear sister, mother, daughter and wife.''

The body of another man found at the entrance of a cave near the border may also have been killed by the flames. The cause of death is still pending.