California wildfire
Death toll rises to 40
Three more deaths have been confirmed in the wildfires burning in northern California wine country, which were already the deadliest series of such fires in state history. By Saturday afternoon, the toll had reached 40, reports The guardian.
Sonoma County announced on Saturday evening that its coroner had confirmed two more deaths, taking the total in the county to 22 and the overall count to 40. The Napa County sheriffs office announced two more deaths, taking the county total to six.
The increased presence of law enforcement officers helping people out of homes has made the fire areas safer even as new flare-ups occur.
The wildfires raced toward wineries and the historic town of Sonoma on Saturday, chasing hundreds more people from their homes and threatening to roll back firefighters modest gains against the cluster of blazes that was as wide as 100 miles.
With high winds and dry weather statewide, more fire crews and equipment such as helicopters were being staged in southern California in preparation for any fires there.
