This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41559875

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
California fires: Deadly wildfires sweep through wine country California fires: Deadly wildfires sweep through wine country
(about 4 hours later)
Parts of California's wine region are being ravaged by fast-spreading fires that have killed at least 10 people.Parts of California's wine region are being ravaged by fast-spreading fires that have killed at least 10 people.
Mass evacuations have taken place and at least 1,500 properties have been destroyed. Seven people were killed in Sonoma county, authorities said. 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 after some of the state's worst-ever wildfires broke out. About 20,000 people fled from Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties in response to some the state's worst-ever wildfires.
The governor of California has declared an emergency. Such fires are more common in southern California but a combination of dry weather and strong winds has fuelled the destruction in the north.
"These fires have destroyed structures and continue to threaten thousands of homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents," the declaration said. "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.
Along with the deaths in Sonoma county, two people were killed in Napa county and one in Mendocino county when thousands of acres burned in one valley. There is little sign the weather in the coming days will bring relief to firefighters, BBC Weather says. More tinder dry conditions are forecast, with no rain expected.
Further injuries have been reported and some people are said to be missing. What do we know of the loss of life and damage?
Marian Williams of Kenwood, Sonoma county, said she and her neighbours had fled the flames in a convoy of vehicles. 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.
"It was an inferno like you've never seen before," she told broadcaster NBC. "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.
The head of California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Kim Pimlott, said that about 1,500 buildings had already been destroyed. Two people also died in Napa county and one in Mendocino county when thousands of acres burned in one valley.
It is not yet known how the fires started on Sunday night.
Napa county's fire chief warned that conditions were hindering firefighting efforts, as further resources were brought in from across the state.
Dozens of vineyard workers were reportedly airlifted to safety overnight.Dozens of vineyard workers were reportedly airlifted to safety overnight.
The fires are particularly fast-spreading because of the combination of high winds, low humidity and hot, dry weather. 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 National Weather Service has issued a warning for the San Francisco area that "any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly". The vine harvest is already under way and many of the grapes have been picked.
One vineyard owner told the LA Times that he thought his property was likely destroyed after he and his family escaped from a fire late on Sunday night. Why did the fires spread so fast?
"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," Ken Moholt-Siebert said. 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.
"I was just being pelted with all this smoke and embers. 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.
"It was just really fast." 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.
The California fire service estimates that more than 70,000 acres have already been destroyed in at least 14 fires, making it one of the most destructive outbreaks California has seen. "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.
In September the Californian city of Los Angeles suffered the largest wildfires in its history. The fires come in a year of record-setting heat and persistent drought, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Why did they come as such a shock?
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.
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 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."
California fires: In pictures
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 belowOr use the form below