California’s Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in as raging wildfires sweep across the state destroying hundreds of homes and forcing thousands of residents to flee.
Over 1,000 firefighters have fought the Valley Fire, which had grown to 50,000 acres (78 square-miles) by Sunday, with early reports suggesting one person has died.
Governor Brown’s announcement will help expedite debris removal and waive fees to replace essential documents like birth certificates for those who have been forced to abandon their homes.
Firefighters with the Marin County Fire Department's Tamalpais Fire Crew monitor a backfire as they battle the Valley Fire on September 13, 2015 near Middletown, California.
A firefighter looks on while a house is engulfed in flames during the Valley fire in Seigler Springs, California on September 13, 2015.
Daniel Berlant, California Fire Department’s Chief of Public Information said wind gusts that reached up to 30mph sent embers raining down on homes, making it hard for firefighters to stop the Lake County blaze, The Guardian reports.
Four fire fighters were injured on Saturday. They were all members of a helicopter crew and suffered second-degree burns.
Update on the 4 burned firefighters from the #ValleyFire. All suffered 2nd degree burns and are in stable condition at UC Davis Medical
— CAL FIRE PIO Berlant (@CALFIRE_PIO) September 13, 2015
The fire is reported to have erupted on Saturday afternoon about 50 miles west of Sacramento, the state capital. It rapidly burned through brush and trees parched from several years of drought. In pictures: California wildfires
Thousands fled over the weekend as mandatory evacuations were ordered for the communities of Cobb, Middletown, Harbin Hot Springs and Big Canyon Road.
Structure damage on the #ValleyFire still remains at an estimated several hundred homes & hundreds of other structures destroyed.
— CAL FIRE PIO Berlant (@CALFIRE_PIO) September 14, 2015
#ValleyFire This is the view from Middletown Ca. pic.twitter.com/7OxqqXKPDQ
— Nicole Young (@NicoleYoung89) September 12, 2015
A firefighter with the Marin County Fire Department's Tamalpais Fire Crew ignite a backfire with a driptorch as he battles the Valley Fire on September 13, 2015 near Middletown, California.
A dead horse lays on the side of a road while firefighters continue to battle the Valley fire in Middletown, California on September 13, 2015.
California firefighters are also battling the Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras counties, which are about 70 miles east of Sacramento. The fire has grown to 65,000 acres (101 square-miles), Cal Fire reported.
Just In - The #ButteFire in Amador & Calaveras counties is now 65,300 acres & 25% contained. Over 4,500 firefighters battling the fire.
— CAL FIRE PIO Berlant (@CALFIRE_PIO) September 14, 2015
It threatens around 6,150 homes.
