California is being evacuated in a state of emergency as multiple wildfires that started on Sunday continue to spread across eight counties.
Photo: NBC news
The wildfires’ death toll has risen to 31, making it the deadliest fire to sweep through California since 1933.
Catastrophe risk modeller, AIR Worldwide, said the fires have already consumed over 3,500 buildings and homes, over 170,000 acres and displaced about 50,000 people.
Evacuation orders have widened today, with residents of Calistoga and Geyserville now under mandatory evacuation orders.
The Northern California Diablo winds, usually spawned as high pressure builds over the West and air flows toward areas of lower pressure along the coast, fanned flames on the ridge tops with gusts as high as 70 mph.
With three of the most dangerous wildfires still raging in northern California, it’s too soon to report accurate damage and loss figures, but AIR said it’s clear there’s been significant property loss with the most extensive property loss appearing in Santa Rosa.
At least 13 Napa Valley wineries have been destroyed, according to a vintners’ trade group.
Although winds are expected to ease somewhat over the next few days and temperatures to cool, winds may shift again later in the week, and there is little hope for any significant rainfall.
With nearly two dozen fires still out of control, the situation in California remains extremely dynamic, said AIR.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but some officials have suggested it could’ve been sparked by strong winds blowing over power lines.
