Fire officials say some 5,700 homes and buildings have been destroyed by wildfires burning in Northern California.
The Latest on California wildfires (all times local):
3:45 p.m.
Fire officials say about 5,700 homes and buildings have been destroyed by wildfires burning in Northern California.
California Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Daniel Berlant gave the new number Friday afternoon for the damage done since Sunday night by more than 20 wildfires burning mostly in the state’s wine country.
The figure is up 2,200 from the 3,500 destroyed homes and buildings previously announced.
The blazes have also driven 90,000 people from their homes and killed 32 people.
___
2:30 p.m.
California officials say it will be weeks before they determine the causes of the wildfires sweeping the state.
Ken Pimlott, the state’s fire chief, said Friday that 20 investigators alone are in Sonoma County looking into the cause and origin.
He says the process is very technical and painstaking, and investigators won’t have information to disclose for “weeks to come.”
Part of the problem is that much of the evidence was consumed in the fires. That means investigators must look for other clues to decide what happened.
They are not yet ready to say whether any were caused by downed or sparking power lines from the strong, gusty winds that plagued the state overnight Sunday into Monday.
___
2:20 p.m.
California fire officials say wildfires across the state have chased about 90,000 people from their homes.
The evacuation figure was released Friday by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
CalFire says the majority of evacuations were for communities affected by fires in wine country north of San Francisco. Since igniting Sunday in spots across eight counties, the blazes have killed 32 people and destroyed at least 3,500 homes and businesses.
___
2:00 p.m.
Deputies have arrested a man suspected of looting in an evacuation area of Sonoma County, the county hardest hit by wildfires burning in Northern California.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office says deputies arrested Morgan Plumere, of Sonoma, on Thursday after he was spotted stealing sunglasses from a car in an evacuation area.
The office says deputies who searched him found the sunglasses, items that had been reported stolen from a local vineyard and an emergency fire shelter taken from firefighters.
Plumere was arrested for looting, possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of prescription medications without a prescription and violation of probation.
Sonoma County prosecutors warned Friday every case of looting will be prosecuted.
___
1:20 p.m.
Authorities say they have found another body in Sonoma County, raising the death toll to 32 and making this the deadliest week of wildfires in California history.
Sonoma County Sheriff Robert Giordano said Friday that 30 detectives continue to work on finding missing people and that his office has more than 200 pending reports of missing people.
Dozens of search and rescue personnel are on site at a mobile home park in Santa Rosa, California, searching for residents who didn’t make it out before fire swept through.
Santa Rosa, a city of 175,000 people, was one of the hardest-hit communities during the wildfires that ignited Sunday night.
At least 9,000 firefighters from across the state and the country are attacking the flames.
___
12:35 p.m.
Dozens of search and rescue personnel are on site at a mobile home park in Santa Rosa, California, with the grim task of searching for residents who didn’t make it out before fire swept through.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Thompson says officers recovered bone fragments from one person Friday morning. He says there’s a “high probability” they’ll find more.
Officials believe there may be two or three more bodies in the leveled remains of the mobile home park.
Thompson calls it “very tedious work.” A crew of men and women in white suits are standing by.
Fire tore through the Santa Rosa area early Monday, leaving only a short window for people to try to escape from the flames.
___
12:30 p.m.
Fire officials say thousands of firefighters have poured into California in the last 24 hours and that more than 9,000 are now fighting several major blazes.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Chief Ken Pimlott says the additional crews helped make gains overnight.
He says that two of the biggest blazes burning in Sonoma and Napa Counties are now at least 25 percent contained.
Pimlott says dangerous fire weather is forecast for this weekend and that additional fire crews and equipment will be ready to deploy should new fires ignite.
Blazes burning across eight counties have killed 31 people since Sunday and destroyed at least 3,500 homes and businesses.
___
7:20 a.m.
Firefighters gained some ground on a blaze burning in the heart of California’s wine country but face another tough day ahead with low humidity and high winds expected to return.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Scott McLean says a blaze burning in Sonoma and Napa counties is 22 percent contained Friday.
Thousands of firefighters are battling 21 wildfires spanning more than 300 square miles (777 square kilometers) and more crews are pouring in to help.
McLean tells Oakland television station KTVU that the blazes grew little overnight thanks to favorable weather but warns gusty winds and higher temperatures are forecast Friday.
Since igniting Sunday in spots across eight counties, the blazes have killed 31 people and destroyed at least 3,500 homes and businesses.
___
7:20 a.m.
Pope Francis says he’s praying for all those who have lost loved ones or are searching for them in the wildfires devastating California.
Francis sent a telegram of condolence Friday to San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone and Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez.
In it, he offered his “heartfelt solidarity and his prayers for all those affected by this disaster.”
He also encouraged emergency personnel who are helping out. In the telegram, signed by the Vatican secretary of state, Francis said he was particularly keeping in his prayers “those who mourn the loss of their loved ones and who fear for the lives of those still missing.
