Wildfires sweep through California’s vineyards

Wildfires swept through Northern California’s world-famous wine country, destroying homes and businesses, Reuters reported on Oct. 9.

Residents were evacuated in the path of 15 separate blazes that have killed at least 10 people and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses.

Firefighters battled overnight to contain the fires, helped by more favourable weather conditions as winds were dying down.

Some 20,000 people had been evacuated from their homes since Sunday, Oct. 8 officials said, while broadcaster CNN said more than 100 had been treated for fire-related injuries including burns and smoke inhalation.

About 1,500 homes and commercial buildings had been destroyed, Ken Pimlott, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said on Monday.

Fanned by high temperatures and dry conditions, 15 fires broke out over the weekend and spread to cover some 73,000 acres (114 sq miles), fire officials said.

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