Two Towns Evacuated as Wine Country Fires Explode; 29 Dead; 460+ Missing; 3,500+ Buildings Razed

Updated: 2:50 pm PDT

21 Wildfires have burned more than 191,000 acres in Calif.

ALL residents of Calistoga and Geyserville were ordered to abandon their homes.

Emergency Declarations have been proclaimed by the state governor for Napa, Sonoma, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada, Orange and Solano counties.
At least 29 people are confirmed to have died in N. California wildfires this week, with 285 others reported as missing.

The ferocious fires have destroyed an estimated 3,500 homes and businesses, and charred more than 191,500 acres (~ 77,500 hectares).

The wildfires have also destroyed or substantially damaged at least 13 Napa Valley wineries, and razed entire neighborhoods, with an estimated  total of 2,834 homes, in the city of Santa Rosa.

Tens of thousands have evacuated their homes, including 25,000 people in Sonoma County alone, while 8,000+ personnel are trying to contain the fires.

Red Flag Warnings have been issued for much of Northern California due to gusty winds and low humidity starting today. While these winds may hamper the efforts of firefighters, they will also increase the risk for new wildfires. [Cal Fire]

“We’re not going to be out of the woods for a great many days to come,” said Cal Fire director.

“We’ve had big fires in the past,” said Gov. Brown. “This is one of the biggest.”