California Wildfires Latest: 40 Confirmed Dead; Winds Lessen As Firefighters Make Progress

Wildfires in California have left behind a deadly trail of destruction that continues to grow, destroying thousands of structures, forcing residents from their homes and leaving at least 40 people dead. As of Sunday morning, fire officials said more than 200,000 acres had burned and said the thousands of firefighters beating back the flames were making good progress.

The 15 large wildfires burning in the state have destroyed 5,700 structures, and while some people have been allowed to return to their homes, around 75,000 residents remain evacuated. In Northern California, where the fires have ripped across the state's wine country destroying wineries, the red flag warning was lifted at 8 a.m., while the warnings remain in effect for Southern California.

"Conditions have drastically changed from just 24 hours ago, and that is definitely a very good sign. And it's probably a sign we've turned a corner on these fires," Daniel Berlant, spokesman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told The Associated Press.

"We're starting to see fires with containment numbers in the 50 and 60 percent, so we're definitely getting the upper hand on these fires."

In the fires burning in Sonoma and Napa counties, new mandatory evacuations were ordered for some residents of Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa. In Sonoma County alone, the Tubbs fire has claimed 22 victims, and in Napa County, the Atlas fire has left six people dead, two of those victims were found by authorities Saturday morning. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

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Below are the latest Cal Fire statistics on the major fires burning in California:

Sonoma and Napa County:

Tubbs Fire, between Calistoga and Santa Rosa: 35,470 acres, 60% contained

Pocket Fire, North of Geyserville: 11,246 acres, 25% contained

Nuns Fire, East of Hwy 12 from east Santa Rosa to east of Sonoma: 47,106 acres, 25% contained

Oakmont Fire, near Oakmont: 550 acres, 15% contained

Napa & Solano Counties:

Atlas Fire, South of Lake Berryessa and northeast of Napa: 51,057 acres, 56% contained

Mendocino County:

Mendocino Lake Complex: North of Hwy 20 in Potter Valley and Redwood Valley: 35,000 acres, 35% contained

Yuba County:

Cascade Fire, Loma Rica area: 9,989 acres, 87% contained

Butte County:

LaPorte Fire: 6,151 acres, 80% contained

Cherokee Fire, North of Oroville: 8,417 acres, 90% contained

Honey Fire, Southwest of Paradise: 150 acres, 90% contained

Lake County:

Sulphur Fire, Clearlake Oaks: 2,207 acres, 70% contained

Long Fire: 100 acres, 25% contained

Although the investigations will likely take weeks, fire officials suspect power lines downed during intense windstorms likely sparked many of the fires that broke out Sunday night and early Monday morning.

Gov. Jerry Brown praised the response to the fires raging in the North Bay during a visit today to the fire-ravaged area with U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris.

"A town like this — firefighters, elected officials, neighbors — it's a real example of how America pulls together," Brown said during a press conference in Santa Rosa.

After the tour of areas affected by the fires, the three held a press conference and then moved on to a community meeting. During the press conference, Feinstein pledged to find additional funding for people affected by the fire.

"We are going to do everything in our power to see that people are served," Feinstein said. "I spoke to the Democratic leader in the House (of Representatives). She said money is going to be added. The members of
Congress are going to have to be helpful."

Feinstein added, "There is an ability for individuals to be reimbursed I think up to $32,000 by FEMA."

The Associated Press, Bay City News and Patch Editor Autumn Johnson contributed to this report.

Photo: A firefighter holds a water hose while fighting a wildfire Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif. (Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)