Just In - Latest estimate on the #ValleyFire in Lake County is that it has grown to 50,000 acres. Over 1,000 firefighters batting the fire.— CAL FIRE PIO Berlant (@CALFIRE_PIO) September 13, 2015
A state of emergency was declared for Lake and Napa counties on Sunday by California Governor Jerry Brown.
.@JerryBrownGov declares state of emergency in Lake and Napa counties: http://t.co/n7AiXUs0QX #ValleyFire — Gov. Brown Press Ofc (@GovPressOffice) September 13, 2015
The Valley Fire started around 1:24 pm local time on Saturday off Highway Valley Road and Bottle Rock Road in Cobb, California.
Update on the 4 burned firefighters from the #ValleyFire. All suffered 2nd degree burns and are in stable condition at UC Davis Medical — CAL FIRE PIO Berlant (@CALFIRE_PIO) September 13, 2015
There are currently around 1,000 firefighters battling the blaze, with helicopters and air tankers employed, Cal Fire added.
Chaos as building after building in #MiddleTown burns #ValleyFire pic.twitter.com/GqO0Uncb4E — Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBCLA) September 13, 2015
Local authorities first issued mandatory evacuation orders for Cobb, a community with about 1,800 residents. However, these have now been expanded to include nearby Middletown, a town of around 1,300, as well as people living along State Route 29 from Clear Lake to Calistoga. Fire hydrants in Middletown had run dry, local authorities told NBC News.
#ValleyFire is ripping pic.twitter.com/3TkPm6Nmh3 — IAFIREMEDIA (@WILDFIREUPDATE) September 13, 2015
Eerie scene along Hyw 29 in Lake County. #ValleyFire pic.twitter.com/wnoM0qo3KX — Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBCLA) September 13, 2015
Update: #CalFire now says over 1,000 structures have been destroyed by the #ValleyFire many homes #BreakingNews — Bernie Deyo (@EPN473) September 13, 2015
Around 7 million acres across the US have burned as a result of wildfires in 2015, more than 5 million of which are in Alaska, according to the National Weather Service.
#ValleyFire in Lake County
- 10,000 Acres
- Evacuations
- 4 firefighters in stable condition http://t.co/3g0G0qxhAo pic.twitter.com/fCBDa4m2e7 — Ed Joyce (@EdJoyce) September 13, 2015
A lot of the reports coming in from firefighters are describing fires that literally explode. This is due to the aerial discharge of light elements like Aluminum and Boron. Recall you basic pyrotechnics formulas.