Death toll rises to 35, more evacuations ordered in historic California fires

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Source: LA Times

Fire officials fear a return to similar weather conditions Saturday to those that stoked massive blazes across Northern California almost a week ago, which could result in fires spreading this weekend, authorities said.

Firefighters throughout the region are facing 10 to 20 mile-per-hour winds, with gusts up to 40 to 45 miles per hour, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Jaime Williams. The wildfires have charred more than 220,000 acres across Northern California.

The winds and low humidity “will challenge the firefighting efforts,” she said. “When you have these winds, it helps contribute to the spread and the intensity of the fire”

The firestorms have destroyed an estimated 5,700 structures, resulted in at least 35 deaths and forced upward of 100,000 evacuations. Nineteen people have died due to the Tubbs fire in Sonoma County, eight in Mendocino County, four in Yuba County and four in Napa County.

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Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-california-fires-20171014-story.html