California: the vineyards of Napa Valley devoured by flames

Fires devastated Monday, September 28 the famous vineyards of Napa Valley in northwestern California, in the grip of a new heat wave, thousands of people having to evacuate their homes in the middle of the night.

Read also: Fires: California is not getting by

Incandescent skies, charred trees and vines, houses ravaged by flames: the blaze named "

", which started on Sunday, devoured, according to firefighters, nearly 4,500 hectares in Napa County, one of the areas of most prestigious wine production in the United States.

Some wineries went up in smoke, such as Chateau Boswell in the town of St. Helena, while others were under severe fire, such as Merus Wines vineyards and Davis Estates.

More than 11,000 people were ordered to evacuate overnight from Sunday to Monday.

JOSH EDELSON / AFP

11,000 people ordered to evacuate

More than 11,000 people were ordered to evacuate overnight from Sunday to Monday, authorities said, including 4,500 residents of a senior residential area in Sonoma wine county, near Napa.

“

”said Lorraine Fuentez, who lives near the town of Calistoga, to the

newspaper

.

Read also: Fires: Trump insists on "forest management" upon his arrival in California

As a precaution, the energy supplier Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) on Sunday cut power to nearly 65,000 homes in northern California, including in Napa and Sonoma counties.

More than 1,000 firefighters, aided by helicopters and water bombers, fought the Glass Fire on Monday, fueled by yet another heat wave and dry winds, which was still not under control.

1/4 - California has been affected by fires for several weeks.

JOSH EDELSON / AFP

The counties of Napa and Sonoma had already been struck by devastating fires in 2017, killing a total of 44 people and destroying several thousand buildings.

California has been ablaze for months, the fires, which usually occurred between August and November, have become more frequent and more important in this state in recent years, in part because of climate change.