Fast-moving fires engulfing Northern California have left behind a trail of destruction. Authorities have issued a state of emergency as flames consume houses, businesses and infrastructure throughout the state.
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California firefighters are facing a worsening situation as winds are expected to pick up to around 50 mph (80 km/h), spreading what has been called one of the worst fires in the state's history. The number of fires increased from 17 to 22 Wednesday and the number of confirmed dead has increased to 21. Some 170,000 acres (690 square kilometers) have been consumed by the fire, as well as more than 3,500 homes. Firefighters described the situation as "very active on several fronts."
Unknown number of missing
The largest fires are burning in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties in the heart of California's wine region. On Monday, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in the area. Large-scale evacuations are currently under way and the number of missing is unknown.
In Sonoma county alone, 670 people are unaccounted for. As of Tuesday, some 20,000 residents had been evacuated from their homes. Authorities have set up a registry for missing persons and encouraged residents to sign in once they were safe. Sonoma County Sheriff Robert Giordano said that many missing residents had been found, though they had not logged onto the registry site.
'Catastrophic'
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Chief Ken Pimlott called the Northern California wildfires, "a serious, critical and catastrophic event." Tens of thousands of residents have also been left without power as a result of fires destroying infrastructure. Smoke and ash from the fires has been so intense in neighboring San Francisco that residents there have been told to stay indoors and to wear breathing masks if possible. No rain is forecast for the area for the next week.
As firefighters attempt to contain the Northern California blazes, their colleagues in Southern California announced that more than 1,600 firefighters in Orange County had contained roughly 40 percent of the brushfires burning there. Authorities say they hope to have those fires completely contained by Saturday.
Plea for federal assistance
California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris yesterday called on US President Donald Trump and Congress to provide federal assistance to their ravaged state, saying damage exceeded that which it could bear alone. On Monday, Vice-President Mike Pence, who was fundraising for Republican congressional candidates in California, left his prepared remarks to say that "the federal government stands ready to provide any and all assistance to the state of California as your courageous firefighters and first responders confront this widening challenge."
js/bk (AP, Reuters)
California wildfires in pictures
Multiple wildfires across a large swath of northern California have killed more than 40 people and devastated homes. The rising death toll makes it the deadliest wildfire in California's history.
Image: Reuters/M. Blake
Fire retardant
Air crews are dropping fire retardant to stop the spread of the wildfires that have killed dozens in California. The fires were fanned by high temperatures, dryness and gusting winds.
Image: Reuters/M. Blake
Hazardous air quality
An aerial view shows wildfires spewing smoke northeast of Napa in California's wine district. Air quality in the Napa area is "very unhealthy" or "hazardous," according to US government agencies. Many of the reported injuries have been from smoke inhalation.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/M. Short
Homes destroyed
Thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed, including this neighborhood in Santa Rosa. The city of 175,000 people was one of the hardest hit.
Image: Getty Images/J. Sullivan
Wind driven fires
A helicopter drops fire retardant to prevent the spread of wind driven fires. Wild gusts that fueled the fires were up to 50 mph (80 kmh). Thousands of firefighters are battling around 20 rapidly spreading fires.
Image: Reuters/M. Blake
Wineries burnt to the ground
Napa and Sonoma counties north of San Francisco are at the heart of California's famous wine industry. The bucolic scenery of forested hills and beautiful vineyards were turned into a black scarred landscape. Several wineries were burnt to the ground.
Image: Reuters/S. Lam
Hot spots
One of thousands of firefighters deployed to the region puts out a hot spot as a fire rages in the background. In addition to putting out fires and stop them from spreading, emergency services are focused on evacuating people from the path of deadly destruction. At least 25,000 people have been evacuated.
Image: Reuters/M. Blake
Intense heat
The intense heat of the wildfires has melted window frames and car tire rims, leaving many vehicles resting on their axles. Even the glass backboard of a basketball hoop melted due to the heat — dripping from the post and hardening like an icicle.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/J. Chiu
Neighborhoods in ash
Two women sift through the remnants of a home in Napa after a wildfire roared through the neighborhood, killing an elderly couple. Officials say the death toll will likely continue to rise.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/San Jose Mercury News/R. Chavez
The long road to recovery
The morning sun rises on a home in Orange, California after wildfires burned all but the chimneys. US President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in California while the House of Representatives approved a $36.5 billion disaster aid package that will help fire-ravaged California as well as hurricane-hit Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas.
Image: picture-alliance/Zuma Press/Orange County Register/M. Rightmire