California Wildfire Update: Historic Winds Batter State As Fires Blaze

Historic winds mixed with dry weather conditions have exacerbated the wildfires currently blazing across Los Angeles and Sonoma Counties in California. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company on Saturday announced plans to cut power to nearly a million customers in an effort to curb wildfires.

Weather conditions are magnifying the damage of the fires themselves, particularly in Northern California.

According to an SFGate report, weather conditions have pushed the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County to roughly 30,000 acres in size. Additionally, at least 79 structures have been consumed by the fire, including 31 homes, with a further 31,175 threatened by the ongoing blaze. No deaths have yet been reported.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department has said that around 180,000 people have been evacuated from the area, one of the area’s largest in history.

“This is the largest evacuation that any of us at the Sheriff’s Office can remember,” the department said in a statement. “Take care of each other.”

In Los Angeles County, the County Fire Department reports that the Tick Fire near Santa Clarita has so far destroyed 22 structures and damaged a further 27, with 10,000 at risk from the continuing blaze.

Over 4,600 acres have been covered by the fire, with 65 percent contained by firefighters.

No casualties have been reported.