A 50,000-acre fire racing through Lake and Napa counties has destroyed hundreds of homes and other structures, California fire officials said Sunday.
The blaze, called the Valley fire, broke out Saturday and rapidly expanded beyond all control, putting a strain on fire-fighting efforts that were already stretched thin across the state.
The conflagration prompted an immediate declaration of emergency from Gov. Jerry Brown, allowing the state to mobilize various resources, including the California National Guard, to help.
Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for the communities of Cobb, Seigler Canyon, Loch Lomond, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lakes.