Massive blazes, which have persisted in the area since last Sunday, also burned about 265 square miles of California's legendary Napa and Sonoma valleys and beyond, destroying around 3,500 homes. Many have already called the wildfires among the worst in California's history.
"It's an extremely stressful and challenging time. We are all hands on deck", Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as saying.
He was echoed by Heather Williams, a spokeswoman for Cal Fire, the state agency responsible for fire protection, who referred to "a very serious situation" which she warned may be further exacerbated by return of strong winds.
More than 20,000 people have already been evacuated across California as hundreds more are currently leaving their homes amid the ongoing blazes.
#CaliforniaWildFires: death toll rises to 23 https://t.co/9Kz4eDCMqs pic.twitter.com/9pPZGvPlIo
— RT America (@RT_America) 12 октября 2017 г.
At least 8,000 firefighters are trying to tackle the natural disaster in an effort that is backed by 73 helicopters and 30 air tankers, according to media reports.
According to the US Treasury Department, over 680 million gallons, or 25.75 million hectoliters, of wine was produced in California in 2016. For comparison's sake, France produced 43.2 million hectoliters of wine in the same year.
GOD BLESS FIREFIGHTERS#CaliforniaWildfires #santarosafire pic.twitter.com/JA9Klx0NXG
— Kate Porter, RVT (@yesimpeachnow) 12 октября 2017 г.
The Guardian quoted Sonoma County sheriff Robert Giordano as saying that "the devastation is enormous" and that the death toll will further increase. According to him, more than 600 people remain missing in the California wildfires.
