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California wildfires: Calistoga evacuated amid blazes | California wildfires: Calistoga evacuated amid blazes |
(about 4 hours later) | |
California officials have ordered an entire city to evacuate as "conditions have worsened" in wildfires that have killed 24 people. | |
All residents of Calistoga were directed to leave the area on Wednesday night, Napa County officials said. | |
About 60 prison inmates have joined hard-pressed firefighters in battling the fast-moving blazes, the state fire chief says. | About 60 prison inmates have joined hard-pressed firefighters in battling the fast-moving blazes, the state fire chief says. |
Among the areas scorched by the 22 blazes are marijuana farms. | Among the areas scorched by the 22 blazes are marijuana farms. |
'Explosive vegetation' | 'Explosive vegetation' |
On Thursday morning, Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano said 436 people are still unaccounted for. | |
Nine hundred people have been reported missing since the fire started on Sunday night, but a large number have been located, he added. | |
The night before, all 5,000 residents of Calistoga, in Napa County, were told to leave as police blocked traffic from approaching the area. | |
Geyserville, a town of around 800 people, and the community of Boyes Hot Springs, both in Sonoma, were also evacuated. | |
"It's going to continue to get worse before it gets better," state fire Chief Ken Pimlott said. | "It's going to continue to get worse before it gets better," state fire Chief Ken Pimlott said. |
He warned that the death toll could rise further. | He warned that the death toll could rise further. |
"We are still impacted by five years of drought," he added. | |
"These fires were driven by the critically dry fuel bed. We are literally looking at explosive vegetation." | |
The devastating wildfires, which brought wind gusts of up to 50mph (80km/h), have destroyed at least 3,500 buildings and homes, spanning 170,000 acres (68,800 hectares). | |
Renewed high winds are fanning the "catastrophic" blazes, said state fire officials, which are spreading unpredictably in their fourth day. | Renewed high winds are fanning the "catastrophic" blazes, said state fire officials, which are spreading unpredictably in their fourth day. |
Firefighters are going door to door in the state's wine-producing region, evacuating those who are left behind ahead of the next wave of blazes. | Firefighters are going door to door in the state's wine-producing region, evacuating those who are left behind ahead of the next wave of blazes. |
Some homeowners complained that the flames had reached their doors ahead of any official warnings. | |
Many residents did not receive notifications on their mobile phones, similar to the Amber Alert issued for missing children. | |
Sheriff Giordano said Sonoma County uses a system that requires people to sign up to receive such messages. | |
The wildfires have damaged or demolished at least 13 Napa Valley wineries, a vintners' trade group says. | |
Cannabis plantations in fire-scorched Mendocino County could lose millions as many are uninsured, according to Nikki Lastreto of the local industry association. | Cannabis plantations in fire-scorched Mendocino County could lose millions as many are uninsured, according to Nikki Lastreto of the local industry association. |
Marijuana farmers cannot insure their businesses since federal law bans the drug. | Marijuana farmers cannot insure their businesses since federal law bans the drug. |
Though recreational cannabis was legalised in the state in 2016, California's retail market does not open until January 2018. | Though recreational cannabis was legalised in the state in 2016, California's retail market does not open until January 2018. |
This means some farmers who have invested millions may be left without a business once the smoke clears. | This means some farmers who have invested millions may be left without a business once the smoke clears. |
The fires are among the deadliest in California's history and have sent smoke as far south as San Francisco, about 50 miles away. | |
More than 200 fire engines and crews are being rushed to California from the rest of the US, officials said. | |
Mr Pimlott said 73 helicopters, 30 air tankers and nearly 8,000 firefighters were currently battling the blazes. | |
The conflagration has reduced entire neighbourhoods in the city of Santa Rosa, a city of 175,000 people, to ash. | |
Fourteen of the deaths have occurred in Sonoma County, officials say. Some 25,000 people across the county have been evacuated and 40,000 homes are without power. | |
Six people have died in Mendocino County, two in Yuba County and two in Napa County, officials told the Los Angeles Times. |