Wildfires have wreaked havoc throughout Northern California, reducing 400 homes to cinders and leaving at least one person dead, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The department confirmed the fatality, though declined to provide details on the circumstances of the death, according to ABC News.
In addition to the 400 homes destroyed in the blaze, up to 1,000 other structures, such as barns, sheds and other buildings were burned, California Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant stated.
According to a tweet posted by Berlant on Sunday morning, up to 62.5 square miles had been razed by the fire. Since then, at least 23 additional square miles have fallen to the flames, according to Fox News.
Authorities say the fire erupted in Lake County, about 100 miles north of San Francisco Saturday evening.
Department Spokeswoman Lynn Valentine said most of the destruction occurred in Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake, noting that 30 mph wind gusts sent embers from the flame to other areas making it harder for firefighters to extinguish them, according to the Associated Press.
In addition, Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, notes the main reason the fires have spread so quickly is due to dry conditions from the ongoing drought.
"The bushes, the trees have absolutely no moisture in them, and the humidities are so low that we are seeing these 'fire starts' just erupt into conflagrations," he said.
Four firefighters received second-degree burns during the initial attack on the fire and are currently in the hospital in stable condition.
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Sunday to free up resources in hopes of subduing what has been considered one of the largest wildfires in California's history.
