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| California fires: Deadly wildfires sweep through wine country | California fires: Deadly wildfires sweep through wine country |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Parts of California's wine region are being ravaged by fast-spreading fires that have killed at least 11 people. | Parts of California's wine region are being ravaged by fast-spreading fires that have killed at least 11 people. |
| A state of emergency was declared in northern areas after mass evacuations, with 1,500 properties destroyed. | A state of emergency was declared in northern areas after mass evacuations, with 1,500 properties destroyed. |
| About 20,000 people fled from Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties in response to some the state's worst-ever wildfires. | About 20,000 people fled from Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties in response to some the state's worst-ever wildfires. |
| Such fires are more common in southern California but a combination of dry weather and strong winds has fuelled the destruction in the north. | Such fires are more common in southern California but a combination of dry weather and strong winds has fuelled the destruction in the north. |
| Wildfire's 'dark' skies at Disneyland | Wildfire's 'dark' skies at Disneyland |
| "These fires have destroyed structures and continue to threaten thousands of homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents," Governor Jerry Brown said, declaring the emergency. | "These fires have destroyed structures and continue to threaten thousands of homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents," Governor Jerry Brown said, declaring the emergency. |
| Mr Brown appealed to President Donald Trump in a five-page letter on Monday to declare a major disaster and send federal emergency aid to the fire-ravaged state. | Mr Brown appealed to President Donald Trump in a five-page letter on Monday to declare a major disaster and send federal emergency aid to the fire-ravaged state. |
| Firefighters were working to take advantage of a drop in winds and expected layer of fog on Tuesday. | |
| There is little sign the weather in the coming days will bring further relief to firefighters, BBC Weather says. More tinder dry conditions are forecast, with no rain expected. | |
| Meanwhile, in southern California, a separate wildfire burnt 24 homes or other buildings in the wealthy Anaheim Hills area of Orange County, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. | Meanwhile, in southern California, a separate wildfire burnt 24 homes or other buildings in the wealthy Anaheim Hills area of Orange County, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. |
| California fires: In pictures | California fires: In pictures |
| What do we know of the loss of life and damage? | What do we know of the loss of life and damage? |
| At least 15 fires have raged across nine California counties, sending smoke as far south as San Francisco, located about 60 miles (96km) away. | |
| As a group, the fires are considered among the deadliest in state history. | |
| A new fire is reportedly burning near the Oakmont area of Santa Rosa, a city that has already been devastated by the blazes. | |
| Details of how the seven people died in Sonoma were not immediately available but country sheriff Rob Giordano said he expected the death toll to rise. | Details of how the seven people died in Sonoma were not immediately available but country sheriff Rob Giordano said he expected the death toll to rise. |
| "There is a lot of burned homes and a lot of burned areas, so it's just logical that we're gonna find more people," he said. | "There is a lot of burned homes and a lot of burned areas, so it's just logical that we're gonna find more people," he said. |
| Two people also died in Napa county and one in Mendocino county when thousands of acres burned in one valley. | Two people also died in Napa county and one in Mendocino county when thousands of acres burned in one valley. |
| Sonoma County officials said they have received more than 100 missing-person reports by late Monday. | Sonoma County officials said they have received more than 100 missing-person reports by late Monday. |
| Authorities said they have found a few of the missing persons but most of the reports were still under investigation, Sonoma County spokesman Scott Alonso said on Tuesday. | Authorities said they have found a few of the missing persons but most of the reports were still under investigation, Sonoma County spokesman Scott Alonso said on Tuesday. |
| Dozens of vineyard workers were reportedly airlifted to safety overnight. | Dozens of vineyard workers were reportedly airlifted to safety overnight. |
| Wineries belonging to the rich and famous were abandoned. One belonging to musician Dave Matthews was closed and at risk of being burned to the ground, staff said, as was the nearby Francis Ford Coppola Winery. | Wineries belonging to the rich and famous were abandoned. One belonging to musician Dave Matthews was closed and at risk of being burned to the ground, staff said, as was the nearby Francis Ford Coppola Winery. |
| The vine harvest is already under way and many of the grapes have been picked. | The vine harvest is already under way and many of the grapes have been picked. |
| Why did the fires spread so fast? | Why did the fires spread so fast? |
| It is not yet known how the fires started on Sunday night but such blazes are particularly fast-spreading because of a combination of high winds, low humidity and hot, dry weather. | It is not yet known how the fires started on Sunday night but such blazes are particularly fast-spreading because of a combination of high winds, low humidity and hot, dry weather. |
| Wind gusts in excess of 50mph (80km/h) were reported as 15 separate wildfires burnt across some 73,000 acres, the state fire service said. | Wind gusts in excess of 50mph (80km/h) were reported as 15 separate wildfires burnt across some 73,000 acres, the state fire service said. |
| Ken Moholt-Siebert, a vineyard owner who thought his property had probably been destroyed after he and his family escaped on Sunday night, described the suddenness of the disaster. | Ken Moholt-Siebert, a vineyard owner who thought his property had probably been destroyed after he and his family escaped on Sunday night, described the suddenness of the disaster. |
| "There was no wind, then there would be a rush of wind and it would stop. Then there would be another gust from a different direction. The flames wrapped around us," he told the LA Times. | "There was no wind, then there would be a rush of wind and it would stop. Then there would be another gust from a different direction. The flames wrapped around us," he told the LA Times. |
| The fires come in a year of record-setting heat and persistent drought, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. | The fires come in a year of record-setting heat and persistent drought, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. |
| Why are these fires unusual? | Why are these fires unusual? |
| The combination of conditions is more typical of southern California, the LA Times reports. | The combination of conditions is more typical of southern California, the LA Times reports. |
| "This is exactly what you would expect in the Southern California fall fire season," Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott said. | "This is exactly what you would expect in the Southern California fall fire season," Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott said. |
| Valerie Schropp, a resident of Santa Rosa, which was badly affected by the fire, told the BBC this was not something people expected. | Valerie Schropp, a resident of Santa Rosa, which was badly affected by the fire, told the BBC this was not something people expected. |
| "We have never seen anything like this before, it is such a fast-moving fire," she said. | "We have never seen anything like this before, it is such a fast-moving fire," she said. |
| "We have backpacks by the door. This is a city of 175,000. It's for earthquakes. This is big earthquake country. We don't expect fires to come into the city and burn at the rate they did." | "We have backpacks by the door. This is a city of 175,000. It's for earthquakes. This is big earthquake country. We don't expect fires to come into the city and burn at the rate they did." |
| Are you in the areas of California affected by these fires? If it is safe for you to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you in the areas of California affected by these fires? If it is safe for you to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |