CALIFORNIA FIRES FLARE AGAIN

More people are forced to flee as winds pick up and firefighters are unable to control blazes.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Fueled by the return of strong winds, the wildfires tearing through California wine country exploded in size and number Wednesday as authorities ordered new evacuations and the death toll climbed to 23 — a figure expected to rise.

At least 3,500 homes and businesses have been destroyed since the fires started Sunday.

“We have had big fires in the past. This is one of the biggest, most serious, and it’s not over,” Gov. Jerry Brown said at a news conference. The state’s top emergency officials said that 8,000 firefighters and other personnel were battling the blazes and more resources were pouring in from Oregon, Nevada, Washington and Arizona.

Nearly three days after the flames ignited, firefighters were still unable to gain control of the blazes. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant said 22 wildfires were burning, up from 17 on Tuesday.

“Make no mistake, this is a serious, critical, catastrophic event,” said Ken Pimlott, chief of the department. He said the fires have burned through a staggering 265 square miles of urban and rural areas. The return of high winds and low humidity ignited ground that was parched from years of drought.

“We are literally looking at explosive vegetation,” he said. “It is very dynamic. These fires are changing by the minute in many areas.”

As the fires grow, officials voiced concern that separate fires would merge into even larger infernos.

“These fires are literally just burning faster than firefighters can run in some situations,” Emergency Operations Director Mark Ghilarducci said.

Flames have raced across the wine-growing region and the scenic coastal area of Mendocino farther north. Whole neighborhoods are gone, with only brick chimneys and charred appliances to mark sites that were once family homes.

Authorities ordered more evacuations for parts of Sonoma Valley after a blaze grew to 44 square miles.

Sonoma County Sheriff Robert Giordano said hundreds of people were still reported missing.

“The devastation is enormous,” he said. “We can’t even get into most areas.”

RICH PEDRONCELLI/ASSOCIATED PRESS Homes were destroyed alongside intact structures as seen Wednesday in Santa Rosa, Calif. One official said some fires were moving faster than firefighters could run.