Wildfires raged through Northern California, threatening thousands of homes and blackening the skies near San Francisco as crews struggled to surround them despite steep terrain and blistering heat.
A massive column of smoke rises above Highway 1 just north of the Santa Cruz County line as a section of the CZU August Lightning Complex burns above Waddell Beach, Wednesday Aug. 19, 2020, northwest of Santa Cruz, Calif.
In addition to about two dozen major blazes, small fires kept erupting, though most were quickly stopped.In central California, a pilot on a water dropping mission in western Fresno County died Wednesday morning when his helicopter crashed about an hour from New Coalinga Municipal Airport. Ash and smoke filled the air in San Francisco from at least seven fires — known as the LNU Lightning Complex — that had burned more than 100 buildings, including some homes, and threatened 25,000 others in Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Yolo and Solano counties.“Fires are making runs in multiple directions and impacting multiple communities. A critically dry airmass is moving over the area bringing strong winds,” a Cal Fire statement said Wednesday night.
“I’m not upset about the house. I’m just happy that my horses and animals are alive and my daughter,” she said. Five to seven people were injured in one of the fires in Stanislaus County, Sheriff Jeff Dirkse told the Sacramento Bee.Someone evacuating on Monday had reported that workers at an illegal marijuana farm were still at the ranch but he couldn’t confirm if any were among the patients.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Lightning siege' sparks wildfires across California wine countryLightning strikes sparked dozens of wildfires in Northern California's wine country on Wednesday, burning dozens of structures and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Read more »
Wildfires Tear Across CaliforniaWildfires raged out of control across California overnight Tuesday, prompting evacuations and threatening homes north of San Francisco.
Read more »
Evacuations Expand In Northern California As Wildfires Defy ContainmentI'm a Chi-town gal who's chased news from Milwaukee to the West Coast to Texas. Got a great story to share? I'm all ears.
Read more »
California battling power drain, wildfires during heat waveCalifornia staved off another round of rolling blackouts but faced a renewed threat Wednesday from a searing heat wave and raging wildfires
Read more »
Live updates: Wildfires rage in Northern CaliforniaWildfires raced toward populated areas of Northern California's wine country early today, forcing some residents to evacuate. Follow here for the latest.
Read more »
California wildfires: People flee as blaze approaches Vacaville areaWildfires were racing toward populated areas of Northern California's wine country early Wednesday, sending people fleeing in the dark, authorities said.
Read more »