‘The Worst Is Not Behind Us’: California Wildfires Continue To Burn

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Firefighters make a stand in the backyard of a home in front of the advancing C.Z.U. Lightning Complex fire on Friday. California is seeing some of the worst first in the state’s history.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

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Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

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Most of the deaths throughout the state have come from a set of fires known as the L.N.U. Lightning Complex, covering an area of 314,000 acres around Napa Valley. It’s the second-largest fire in the state’s history. These fires have killed four people and destroyed more than 560 structures, state officials said. As of Saturday afternoon, the blaze was only 15% controlled.

Moving south, approximately 20 different fires merged into three major fires that now comprise the S.C.U. Lightning Complex, which is around Santa Clara and Alameda counties. This series of fires has burned over 291,000 acres, and as of Saturday morning had destroyed 10 structures — though more than 20,000 structures were at risk, according to Cal Fire. It’s the third largest wildfire in the state’s history.

The fires burned actively through the night, and officials expect fire activity to increase later today as smoke clears the area.

«The protection of sensitive wildlife and critical power and communication infrastructure remains a top priority, Cal Fire said in a statement. The agency said these fires were approximately 10% contained.

Fires also rage in Northern California. The C.Z.U. Lightning Complex fire, concentrated in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, has so far consumed over 63,000 acres, Cal Fire reports. As of Saturday morning only 5% of the fire was contained. Smoke from the fires is limiting visibility and hampering aircraft operations, officials said. Approximately 77,000 people in the area have been evacuated.

More lightning is expected over the next few days, which could spark more wildfires.

«Incoming weather is concerning to us, said Cal Fire’s Ian Larkin, unit chief for San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.