Devastating wildfires rage in California
Parts of California are under a state of emergency and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes as crews are struggling to contain deadly wildfires that killed one person and destroyed more than 750 homes on September 13, 2015. California has seen 1,500 more fires this year than at this time last year.
California governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Amador and Calaveras counties where the 97-square-mile wildfire has burned hundreds of structures so far and is threatening 6,400 in the historic Gold Country of the Sierra Nevada foothills. As of Monday, September 14, the Butte Fire had burned 71,000 acres and was only 30 percent contained and the Valley Fire was only 10 percent contained.
In this photo, tall flames rise behind a firefighter during the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California, September 13, 2015.
Valley Fire
Jill Vierra (R), who lost her Anderson Springs home to the Valley Fire, hugs her daughter Jazmin Reyes at the Napa County Fairgrounds evacuation center in Calistoga, California, September 14, 2015.
The northern California wildfire, considered one of the most destructive in California history, has resulted in one death, displaced around 23,000 people and and destroyed some 750 homes.
Valley Fire
Martha Hotchkiss, a Middletown resident displaced by the Valley Fire, carries her dog while heading for dinner at the Napa County Fairgrounds evacuation center in Calistoga, California, September 14, 2015.
Valley Fire
Flames from the Valley Fire cover a hillside along Highway 29 in Lower Lake, California on September 13, 2015.
Valley Fire
Robert Hooper, exhausted after several days with little sleep, is overcome with emotion while surveying his property that was burnt by the so-called Valley Fire near Middleton, California on September 14, 2015.
The fast-moving fire pushed by wind gusts of up to 30 mph engulfed entire blocks in a few hours.
Valley Fire
Signs thanking firefighters are posted on a fence in an area affected by the Valley Fire near Hidden Valley Lake, California, September 14, 2015.
Destroyed by fire
Adam Bailey, left, looks through the still smoldering remains of his home as his father-in-law Joel Miller looks in Cobb, California, September 14, 2015.
Bailey escaped the flames with his baby September 13, just before fire roared through the neighborhood of about two dozen homes. Two of California's fastest-burning wildfires in decades overtook several Northern California towns, resulting in the death of one woman and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses while sending thousands of residents fleeing highways lined with buildings, guardrails and cars still in flames.
Valley Fire
Burned out remains of the popular nudist destination Harbin Hot Springs is seen after the Valley fire roared through the area near Middletown, California on September 14, 2015.
Butte Fire
Billowing smoke rises above a residence as the Butte Fire burns in San Andreas, California on September 11, 2015.
The so-called Butte Fire has destroyed homes and outbuildings since it erupted on September 9 near the former gold mining town of Jackson. Governor Jerry Brown on Friday declared a state of emergency for Amador and Calaveras counties, which were damaged by the blaze.
Valley Fire
A firefighter stands near a wildfire in Middletown, California on September 13, 2015.
The fire swept through town late September 12 destroying dozens of homes.
Valley Fire
Burned out remains of vehicles and homes scorched by the Valley Fire line Wardlaw St. in Middletown, California on September 13, 2015.
Butte Fire
A house burns as the Butte fire rages through Mountain Ranch, California, September 11, 2015.
Evacuation orders were expanded to thousands of homes in northern California's Sierras on September 11 as the rapidly spreading wildfire roared for a third day through drought-parched timber and brush, threatening mountain communities.
Valley Fire
Flames spout from a gas pipe at a Jefferson St. home leveled by the Valley Fire in Middletown, California September 13, 2015.
The Valley Fire destroyed hundreds of structures as it raged through the towns of Middletown and Cobb in northern California, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said on Sunday.
Butte Fire
Firefighters monitor a backfire while battling the Butte fire near San Andreas, California on September 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
Firefighters set a backfire while battling the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California, on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
A firefighter lights a backfire while battling the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California on September 12, 2015.
The blaze, dubbed the Butte Fire, ignited September 9 and exploded to more than 100 square miles in two days amid triple-digit temperatures and land parched from several years of drought.
Valley Fire
A car burns in front of a burning home during Valley Fire in Middletown, California, September 13, 2015.
The fast-moving fire, one of dozens scorching the dry California landscape has spread to about 78,000 square miles, destroying many parts of Middleton, just 30 miles north of Napa Valley.
Butte Fire
Firefighters work to save a home as the Butte Fire rages through the Scott's Junction area near Mountain Ranch, California, September 11, 2015.
Valley Fire
Ezequiel Cervantes, whose father's home was spared as the Valley Fire raged down Highway 175, surveys a neighbor's destroyed home in Middletown, California on September 13, 2015.
The rapidly spreading wildfire destroyed hundreds of homes and other buildings as it roared through the northern California village of Middletown and several nearby communities, chasing thousands of residents from their homes, fire officials said on September 13.
Butte Fire
Firefighter Andrew Dodds monitors a backfire while battling the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015.
Crews gained some ground, increasing containment slightly despite smoke grounding helicopters and air tankers, state fire officials said.
Butte Fire
A helicopter drops water on a backfire set by firefighters battling the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California, September 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
Flames from a backfire burn through dry vegetation as firefighters battle the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California, September 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
Flames engulf a tree as the Butte Fire rages near San Andreas, California, September 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
A firefighter sprays water on a backfire while battling the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California, September 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
An animal walks up a street in the evacuated community of Sheep Ranch near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
A firefighter scrambles down an embankment while battling the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California, September 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
A firefighter works to save a residence as the Butte Fire burns in San Andreas, California on September 11, 2015.
Butte Fire
Firefighters light a backfire while battling the Butte Fire near San Andreas, California, September 12, 2015.
Butte Fire
Cows graze in a pasture as the Butte Fire burns in Mountain Ranch, California, September 11, 2015.
Butte Fire
Flames from the Butte Fire rise over a pasture in Mountain Ranch, California September 11, 2015.