UPDATE:
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say at least one resident has died in wildfires that are raging through Northern California and threaten tens of thousands of homes.
Solano County Sheriff Sheriff Thomas A. Ferrara announced the man’s death Thursday, but he didn’t have additional details.
At least two other people have died in the dozens of major fires that have forced tens of thousands of people from their homes in the San Francisco Bay Area, wine country and portions of the Sierra Nevada. A Pacific Gas & Electric utility worker assisting with advance clearing was found dead Wednesday in a vehicle in the Vacaville area between San Francisco and Sacramento. A pilot, 52-year old Mike Fournier of Rancho Cucamonga, on a water-dropping mission in central California also died Wednesday when his helicopter crashed.
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – More than 10,000 firefighters are fighting dozens of fires burning in California.
Cal Fire says three firefighters suffered minor injuries in the CZU Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Clara County.
It’s the largest fire burning in the state, causing 22,000 people to be evacuated.
The fire started Sunday from lightning strikes.
The CZU Lightning Fire is burning in Santa Cruz and southern San Mateo and more residents have been ordered to evacuate in Santa Cruz County.
40,000 acres have burned, 20 structures including historical sites have been destroyed. 8,600 structures are threatened by the spreading flames.
The fire is currently zero percent contained.
In the South Bay, two first responders have been injured in the SCU Lightning Complex Fire.
It’s a combo of 20 different fires, that has burned more than 137,000 acres.
Thousands of people have been evacuated in 5 counties, including Alameda and Santa Clara.
The SCU Fire is 5 percent contained.
The LNU Lightning Complex Fire is burning in wine country.
The fires is a series of fires, includes the Hennessy fire.
Flames have caused evacuations in Fairfield and Vacaville.
As of Thursday at 5:00pm, around 175 structures had burned or been destroyed and Cal Fire reported 131,000 acres had burned.
Fire officials said that fire crews have been making gains, some of the evacuation orders have been lifted.
Link to Cal Fire Incident website
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
