At least 8 dead as 17 major fires burn across California

There are at least 17 major fires burning in California, with more than 12,000 firefighters trying to battle the blazes, Jonathan Cox, Cal Fire battalion chief and information officer, said on Monday.

As of Sunday, more than 200,000 acres had burned, and new fires popped up on Monday, including one that has already destroyed a community of townhouses in Santa Clarita and continues to threaten homes there. "Resources are obviously stretched thin," Cox said, and 150 fire engines from at least a dozen states, including New Jersey and Florida, are headed to California to help.

The Carr Fire in Shasta County has burned more than 95,000 acres and 800 homes, killing at least six people, and the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park has scorched 54,000 acres and killed two firefighters.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up