Fires killed 42 people and destroyed 8,400 buildings
In this Oct. 13, 2017 file photo, a row of chimneys stand in a neighborhood devastated by a wildfire near Santa Rosa, Calif. CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant said Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, the estimate of homes and structures destroyed was boosted from 6,900 late last week to 8,400 as officials neared completion of their damage assessment. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California authorities say firefighters made significant progress over the weekend combatting wildfires that devastated the state’s famed wine country and nearby areas, killing 42 people and destroying 8,400 buildings.
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant said Monday that several days of rainfall helped the firefighters and that authorities are confident most of the wildfires will be contained this week.
He says the largest fires are more than 90 percent contained.
Officials are almost finished with their assessment of property damage. Berlant says their count of buildings destroyed may rise slightly.
The fires started Oct. 8 and 9 and spread mostly in Sonoma and Napa counties north of San Francisco.
They were the deadliest and most destructive in California’s history.
All contents © copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
