Newest California wildfire leaves 1 dead

While it burned a significantly smaller area than the Valley Fire (1,600 acres), the fire destroyed 2,900 structures and 25 people were killed.

The tally of homes destroyed by two massive Northern California wildfires topped 1,000 Saturday after authorities doing damage assessments in the Sierra Nevada foothills counted another 250 houses destroyed by flames still threatening thousands of more structures.

Firefighters found the man’s body inside a charred vehicle after the fire began Saturday near the community of Jamesburg. And my neighbors up on top, their place is burned down…. Officials say fire behavior remained minimal during the night but that smoke may continue to impact the affected fire areas and surrounding communities.

The 118-square-mile Valley Fire that started September 12 in southern Lake County has damaged 1,780 structures as of this afternoon, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said. More than 3,500 structures are still threatened.

The fire has spread across 188 square miles, killing three people.

The blaze was one of 10 active wildfires Sunday, majority in Lake County in Northern California.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s department said the man’s body was found outside his burned-out auto in Monterey County about 140 miles south of San Francisco. While it was originally thought it could possibly be a homicide and detectives were called out, Thornburg said Sunday afternoon, “Right now, all indications point to a suicide”, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinal. It is 30 percent contained. In addition, mandatory evacuation orders will be lifted at noon Sunday for Hidden Valley Lake, Jerusalem Grade, Grange Road and Butts Canyon Road.

The Butte fire, about 100 miles to the east, has killed two people, burned 70,760 acres and destroyed 535 homes and 343 outbuildings. At its peak, more than 19,000 people were ordered to evacuate.

Fire crews were just starting to get control of the Laureles fire in Monterey county Sunday with 60 percent containment when not far off the Tassajara fire increased in intensity.

Firefighters have gained significant ground against the latest deadly blaze to inflict mounting property losses in California while chasing thousands of residents from their homes in a wildfire season shaping as one of the worst on record.