By — Carey Reed Carey Reed Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/california-wildfires-rage Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Wildfires trigger emergency declaration and evacuations in California Nation Sep 13, 2015 4:19 PM EDT California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Lake and Napa counties on Sunday, as rapidly growing wildfires blazed a path of destruction in the state. Four firefighters were injured while battling the fire that grew to engulf 40,000 acres of land, up from 10,000 acres Saturday night. The blaze, known as the Valley fire, is the latest in a slew of devastating wildfires that have swept through drought-stricken forest and brush on the West Coast this summer. The fires have left thousands of residents displaced, and many of their communities destroyed, Reuters reported. More than one thousand firefighters are battling the flames of the Valley fire alone, which was zero percent contained as of Saturday. Meanwhile, firefighters were battling 12 other fires in the area over the weekend, including the Butte fire, which began on Wednesday and was 20 percent contained on Sunday, according to Reuters. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate over the weekend after Gov. Brown on Friday also declared a state of emergency for those counties affected. Firefighter Andrew Dodds monitors a backfire while battling the Butte fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015. The Butte fire has destroyed 86 homes and 51 outbuildings in rural Amador and Calaveras counties, where it covers an estimated 65,000 acres, officials said. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters. Inmate firefighters, lit by the glow of a backfire, rest while battling the Butte fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters A firefighter sprays water on a backfire while battling the Butte fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters Flames from a backfire burn through dry vegetation as firefighters battle the Butte fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters Billowing smoke rises above a residence as the Butte Fire burns in San Andreas, California September 11, 2015. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters A cow grazes in a pasture as the Butte Fire burns Mountain Ranch, California September 11, 2015. The so-called Butte Fire has destroyed six homes and two outbuildings since it erupted on Wednesday near the former gold mining town of Jackson. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters A home burns as the Butte Fire rages near Mountain Ranch, California September 11, 2015. Governor Jerry Brown on Friday declared a state of emergency for Amador and Calaveras counties, which were damaged by the blaze. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Carey Reed Carey Reed Carey Reed assists in covering breaking and feature news for NewsHour Weekend's website. She also helps the NewsHour Weekend broadcast team in the production of the show. She is interested in the flourishing fields of data journalism and information visualization and recently graduated, with honors, from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. @careyereed
California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Lake and Napa counties on Sunday, as rapidly growing wildfires blazed a path of destruction in the state. Four firefighters were injured while battling the fire that grew to engulf 40,000 acres of land, up from 10,000 acres Saturday night. The blaze, known as the Valley fire, is the latest in a slew of devastating wildfires that have swept through drought-stricken forest and brush on the West Coast this summer. The fires have left thousands of residents displaced, and many of their communities destroyed, Reuters reported. More than one thousand firefighters are battling the flames of the Valley fire alone, which was zero percent contained as of Saturday. Meanwhile, firefighters were battling 12 other fires in the area over the weekend, including the Butte fire, which began on Wednesday and was 20 percent contained on Sunday, according to Reuters. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate over the weekend after Gov. Brown on Friday also declared a state of emergency for those counties affected. Firefighter Andrew Dodds monitors a backfire while battling the Butte fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015. The Butte fire has destroyed 86 homes and 51 outbuildings in rural Amador and Calaveras counties, where it covers an estimated 65,000 acres, officials said. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters. Inmate firefighters, lit by the glow of a backfire, rest while battling the Butte fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters A firefighter sprays water on a backfire while battling the Butte fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters Flames from a backfire burn through dry vegetation as firefighters battle the Butte fire near San Andreas, California September 12, 2015. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters Billowing smoke rises above a residence as the Butte Fire burns in San Andreas, California September 11, 2015. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters A cow grazes in a pasture as the Butte Fire burns Mountain Ranch, California September 11, 2015. The so-called Butte Fire has destroyed six homes and two outbuildings since it erupted on Wednesday near the former gold mining town of Jackson. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters A home burns as the Butte Fire rages near Mountain Ranch, California September 11, 2015. Governor Jerry Brown on Friday declared a state of emergency for Amador and Calaveras counties, which were damaged by the blaze. Photo by Noah Berger/Reuters We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now