California was hit by nearly 11,000 lightning strikes in 72 hours, sparking 367 fires, with over 50 structures destroyed in Northern California's wine country where thousands fled their homes.
A helicopter pilot died on Wednesday when his water-dropping aircraft crashed while fighting one of the hundreds of wildfires. The pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft and did not survive, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.
To the north of San Francisco, a group of fires spreading over 18,615 hectares near the city of Vacaville ran through hills and mountains, destroying 50 homes and other structures.
"We are experiencing fires the like of which we haven't seen in many, many years,"California Governor Gavin Newsom said.
A helicopter pilot died on Wednesday when his water-dropping aircraft crashed while fighting one of the hundreds of wildfires. The pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft and did not survive, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.
To the north of San Francisco, a group of fires spreading over 18,615 hectares near the city of Vacaville ran through hills and mountains, destroying 50 homes and other structures.
"We are experiencing fires the like of which we haven't seen in many, many years,"California Governor Gavin Newsom said.