California Wildfires Now the Deadliest in State History

The wildfires raging in California are now the deadliest in the state’s history, with the death toll rising to 40 people. More than 10,000 firefighters are continuing to try to contain the fire, which has destroyed thousands of structures as winds in the area have been unrelenting. California Gov. Jerry Brown called it “truly one of the greatest tragedies that California has ever faced,” adding: “The devastation is just unbelievable. It is a horror that no one could have imagined.” The affected areas—around 214,000 acres—encompass Sonoma County and other areas north of San Francisco. More than 200 people are still unaccounted for, and 100,000 people in total have been forced to evacuate.