Firefighters in the western U.S. state of California are battling more than a dozen wildfires that have killed at least 10 people and sent thousands fleeing their homes.
State fire officials estimated Monday the fires had burned 1,500 homes and businesses, while hospitals said more than 100 people had sought treatment, mostly for smoke inhalation. The number of casualties is expected to rise.
The cause of the fires is not yet clear, but wildfires are common in California during this time of year and the flames can spread quickly across dry landscapes with the help of strong winds.
California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties, which are home to many of the state's popular wineries.
"This is really serious; it's moving fast," Brown said at a news conference.
Twenty thousand people have been evacuated, including hundreds from area hospitals.
美国西部加利福尼亚州的救火人员正努力扑灭十几个地方的野火。野火已造成至少10人丧生，成千上万人逃离家园。
加州消防官员星期一估计，野火摧毁了至少1500所住宅和商业建筑。当地医院说，有100多人前来治疗，其中大部分人是因为吸入了浓烟。预计死伤人数还会上升。
起火原因目前还不得而知。每年这个季节加州经常发生野火，大火借助风势能够迅速扩散。
加利福尼亚州的州长布朗宣布纳帕、索诺马和尤巴三个郡进入紧急状态。这三个郡盛产葡萄酒。
布朗州长在资讯发布会上说：“情况十分严峻，野火迅速蔓延。”
两万人已经撤离，其中包括医院的数百人。