At Least 15 Dead In California Wine Country Wildfires
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SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA (CBSMiami) - Fire crews in Northern California say they're getting a better handle on several wildfires that are ravaging wine country.
Wildfires continue to burn through California's famous wine country, wiping out neighborhoods. At least 15 people are dead and more than 2,000 structures are destroyed.
"It's chaos here. It looks like somebody dropped a bomb or something," said evacuee Rodrigo Valencia.
Residents in a Santa Rosa community are returning to see the devastation after fast-moving flames tore through.
"We have nothing. We left everything and we wanted to see if there's a little piece of our lives left there," said evacuee Lisa Wahnon.
She found only a small cement slab with her and her son's hand imprints.
The fires in Sonoma and Napa counties are still not contained but a break in the weather is giving fire crews hope.
"Our moistures are higher. We also had much less wind, which means fire fighters were able to get in front of the fire and protect structures," said Battalion Chief Jonathan Cox with CAL Fire.
In Southern California, another wildfire in Anaheim has already consumed 7,500 acres and destroyed 24 structures.
A thick cloud of smoke hangs over nearby Disneyland.
Vice President Mike Pence visited emergency officials in Sacramento.
"President Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for the state of California to assist in the response to wildfires," said Pence.
So far this year, California has already had 1,500 more wildfires than last year.
The cause of the fires is still unknown at this time.
October is traditionally the most destructive time of year for California wildfires.