Fires force more to evacuate

SANTA ROSA: Fastmoving fires spread by shifting winds forced thousands more Californians to evacuate their homes yesterday as the death toll from the deadliest blaze recorded in the state’s history rose to at least 40, with hundreds of people still missing.

More than 10,000 firefighters supported by air tankers and helicopters overhead were battling 16 major wildfires, some encompassing several smaller merged blazes, in areas north of San Francisco that have consumed nearly 86,000ha over seven days, or roughly 865sq km — an area larger than New York City.

The 40 confirmed fatalities, including 22 in Sonoma County, already make it the deadliest fire in Californian history.

Some 100,000 people have been forced from their homes, includ ing 3000 evacuated yesterday from the city of Santa Rosa, about 80km north of San Francisco.

‘‘This is truly one of the greatest tragedies that California has ever faced. The devastation is just unbelievable. It is a horror that noone could have imagined,’’ California Governor Jerry Brown said on a visit to a devastated Santa Rosa.

The fires have damaged or destroyed about 5700 structures, reducing homes and businesses to ash.

There were some glimmers of hope as winds weakened and firefighters made progress with blazes such as the Cascade Fire, about 128km northeast of Santa Rosa, which was nearly 10,000 acres and 87% contained yesterday, Cal Fire said.

Winds are expected to weaken overnight, which should help in fighting the fires but high temperatures and dry conditions that feed the fires will remain through the weekend, forecasters said.

At least a dozen Napa Valley and Sonoma County wineries were damaged or destroyed, throwing the state’s wine industry and related tourism into disarray.

Firefighters from states including Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada have joined crews from California to battle the blazes.

From the air, some 70 helicopters and large aircraft including a 747, two DC10s and about a dozen air tankers doused flames across the affected area with fire retardant, officials said. Aircraft have dropped more than 7.6 million litres of fire retardant.

Cal Fire had estimated the fires would be contained by October 20. — Reuters