California Wildfires: Gov. Jerry Brown Requests Federal Disaster Aid as Officials Find More Destroyed Structures

Associated Press
Published: September 22,2015
Officials said a massive wildfire burning in Northern California is now the third-worst in state history, in terms of the number of structures it has claimed.
The Valley fire has now reduced more than 1,750 structures to ash, according to CalFire. Factor in another large wildfire still burning in Northern California, the Butte fire, and the total number of houses, outbuildings and commercial properties destroyed nears 2,700. Together, the two fires have burned through about 229 square miles, an area roughly the size of the city of Chicago.
By comparison, a 1991 fire in Oakland Hills burned 2,900 structures and still ranks as the worst fire in state history in that category.
(PHOTOS: Wildfires Rage in California)
Here's a brief update on each of the three major fires burning in Northern California.

• Valley fire: 76,067 acres burned; 1,783 structures destroyed; 6,563 structures threatened; 75-percent contained; 3 killed
• Butte fire: 70,760 acres burned; 901 structures destroyed; 6,400 structures threatened; 74-percent contained; 2 killed
• Rough fire: 142,369 acres burned, 70-percent contained

Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Lake and Napa counties due to the effects of the fire. He also requested a presidential disaster declaration on Monday, hoping to acquire federal funds to help with the recovery effort.
Some firefighters are battling the infernos, working to save as many houses as they can, while their own homes burn down.
"I was out fighting the fire on the other end, and then my whole place burned down," Bob Eaton, a volunteer firefighter with the Cachagua Fire Protection District, told the Santa Cruz Sentinel. "My parents' house, right below me, it burned down. And my neighbors up on top, their place is burned down."
Making matters worse, this disaster has occurred in one of the Golden State's poorer counties. In addition to the hundreds of homes destroyed in Lake County, many others have been heavily damaged. The fire has left thousands are without power and needing shelter.
"The biggest challenge is there aren't enough hotel rooms in Lake County," county Supervisor Jim Comstock said Monday. His house was spared, but a majority of his 1,700-acre ranch was lost to the Valley fire.
(MORE: How You Can Help the Fire Victims)
With so many needing shelter, evacuees are being housed anywhere possible. The Twin Pine Casino and Hotel in Middletown set up beds in its event center, but hotel rooms are reserved for displaced tribal members and employees. An evacuation center at the nearby Napa County Fairgrounds is housing about 500 people in tents and campers, Comstock said.
Six people have been confirmed dead in California's latest round of wildfires. In addition to the five killed by the Valley and Butte fires, officials recovered the body of a person in Monterey County on Sunday. No information has been released about the victim, according to the Los Angeles Times.
That wildfire, the Tassajara fire, has burned more than 1,000 acres of land and is 50-percent contained. It has destroyed 10 homes, CalFire confirmed. Despite a quick response to the fire, crews' attempts to save the 10 homes were unsuccessful.
"It just went so damn fast," Eaton said.