California Wildfires Hit by New Blazes

A new wildfire broke out in Los Angeles on Monday and blazes fanned by high wind spread elsewhere in California, a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency.

The California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, or CalFire,  reported that at least 162,693 acres burned, 406 structures were damaged or destroyed and three people have died in the fires burning across California.

Nine active fires were burning throughout the state, according to CalFire.

Some 3,300 homes are in the mandatory evacuation zone.

The wildfire is threatening LA’s affluent Brentwood neighbourhood, and a local resident told the LA Times he was debating whether or not to leave, and which car of his two cars should be left behind.

Meanwhile, wildfires are continuing to sweep through northern California.

Some 180,000 people have been ordered to leave homes, with roads around Santa Rosa north of San Francisco packed with cars as people tried to flee.

The Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, the largest of the fires burning in the state, spread to more than 66,000 acres Monday, doubling its size in 24 hours. Only 5% of the fire has been contained. Early Sunday, the fire had spread to 30,000 acres, with 10% considered contained.

For the Kincade Fire alone, 352 engines, 28 water tenders, 10 helicopters, 76 hand crews, 51 bulldozers, and 3,441 total personnel have been assigned to contain the fire, according to the incident update.

The biggest blackouts in the state’s history have already left a million people without electricity. Power companies are trying to stop damaged cables from triggering new fires.

Another million people have been told they could lose supplies.

The main evacuation order in the north encompasses a huge area of Sonoma County, including Santa Rosa.

The 150-year-old Soda Rock Winery was among the structures destroyed.

There are fears the blazes could cross the 101 highway and enter areas that have not seen wildfires since the 1940s.

Some 43 of California’s 58 counties are under “red flag” warnings. The warning informs firefighting services that conditions are ideal for wildfires.