The Napa Valley town of Calistoga faces one of the biggest threats and its 5,000-plus residents were ordered from their homes as winds picked up and fire crept closer. Some people killed were asleep when flames engulfed their homes, fire officials said. Mark Ghilarducci, state director of emergency services, said the loss of cell towers likely contributed to difficulties in warning residents. As many as 900 missing-person reports have been filed in Sonoma County and 437 have since turned up safe. The fires struck the heart of the world-renowned wine-producing region, wreaking havoc on its tourist industry and damaging or destroying at least 13 Napa Valley wineries.

Source: bd News24 October 13, 2017 08:15 UTC