Forty dead and hundreds missing as California 'horror' fires devastate area bigger than New York City

A helicopter drops water on a wildfire over Mt Helena, California  - The Press Democrat
A helicopter drops water on a wildfire over Mt Helena, California - The Press Democrat

The death toll in California’s wildfires passed 40 at the weekend, with hundreds of people still missing in the most lethal outbreak of bush fires in the state’s history.

More than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as entire neighbourhoods are reduced to blackened ruins.

Authorities hope weakening winds will help more than 10,000 firefighters contain fires that have already consumed more than 330 square miles, an area larger than New York City.

“This is truly one of the greatest tragedies that California has ever faced,” said Jerry Brown, California governor, during a visit to the affected region.

“The devastation is just unbelievable. It is a horror that no one could have imagined.”

Hundreds of buildings are devastated in Santa Rosa, California  - Credit: AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSONJOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images
Hundreds of buildings are devastated in Santa Rosa, California Credit: AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSONJOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images

Firefighters reported progress at the end of last week, clearing dry vegetation and starting to contain some of the 17 separate fires that are still burning.

Crews from the states of Colorado, Washington and Nevada have joined the effort. From the air, some 70 helicopters and large aircraft including a 747, two DC-10s and a dozen air tankers have dropped millions of gallons of water and retardants on the flames.

California wildfires: Firefighters battle deadly inferno in wine country, in pictures

But officials say the flames shifting winds and tinder-dry land mean thousands more people had to evacuate their homes at the weekend. Forecasts that the fires would be under control by October 20 may have to be revised, they admitted.

The fires now stretch 100 miles across.

A firefighter holds a water hose while fighting a wildfire in Santa Rosa - Credit: AP
A firefighter holds a water hose while fighting a wildfire in Santa Rosa Credit: AP

The city of Calistoga, in Napa Valley, was among those evacuated. Chris Canning, the mayor, said all but 12 of the city’s 5200 population had left.

He said the winds were keeping the flames just over two miles from the city limit.

“If the winds shift and come back again, that's a big concern,” he told the Associated Press.

Napa Valley and Sonoma County, at the heart of California wine country, have been the worst affected areas, throwing the industry and related tourism into disarray.

A trade group reported that 13 Napa Valley wineries have been destroyed.

Officials say they still do not know what caused the powers, although power lines brought down by winds are among the possibilities.