California fire: Blaze RAVAGES homes and posh hotels as mass evacuation sparks panic
TERRIFYING videos show the scale of out of control wildfires that are ravaging parts of California.
By Sophie Alexander
DailyStar.co.uk
9th October 2017
Some Napa County and Sonoma residents were evacuated early this morning due to the ferocity of the flames.
As firefighters battle the blazes, videos and photos uploaded to Twitter show high-speed winds spreading red embers and thick black smoke billowing into the night sky.
California Fire Deputy Chief Scott MacLean warned locals of the life-threatening nature of the fire.
“Very, very volatile fire conditions,” he said. “People need to be careful.”
Just after 2am this morning, police reported that a fire had “ignited structures” on the north side of Napa and ordered an immediate evacuation.
“This is a life-threatening event,” officials said. “Leave immediately.”
Guests at the swanky Silverado Resort and Spa were also told to leave, following an announcement on a loudspeaker.
“We were sleeping, but we kept smelling smoke,” Chris Thomas, 42, told SF Gate.
He was in the Napa Valley with wife, Marissa, for a wine-tasting trip.
“It was surreal,” Chris added.
“When I started loading stuff into the car it was a hell-storm of smoke and ash. There were 30 to 40mph winds. I couldn’t even breathe, so I ran back to the unit to get Marissa. It was so smoky I went to the wrong unit.
“When I found her I said, ‘Forget it, let’s just go.’ It went from being an annoying evacuation to something really scary.”
The emergency services have asked residents who smell smoke not to call them unless they actually see flames as they are being “overwhelmed by 911 calls”.
Napa is north of San Francisco and known for its beautiful landscape and larges swatches of vineyards.
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