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New fires in California

As fire crews gain on wildfires burning for more than a week in Northern California's wine country, new fires broke out in other parts of the state, including northeast of Los Angeles.

Fire fighters are battling a blaze that sprang up overnight in the southern Bay Area Santa Cruz mountains, prompting evacuation orders and threatening 100 homes. The fire has torched about 125 acres.

At least one structure was destroyed, Rob Sherman, assistant chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told KNTV news.

Further south, crews with air support are racing to protect a historic observatory and communications towers from a growing brush fire on Mount Wilson northeast of Los Angeles. The blaze was initially estimated at around 5 acres (2 hectares). Officials say the observatory has been evacuated and the fire is not burning near foothill residences.

A week after fleeing wildfires in Northern California, tens of thousands of people are drifting back into their neighbourhoods. Some will face the prospect of destroyed homes. All will face the possibility of lasting emotional damage.

The cluster of wildfires has been burning in Northern California's wine country for more than a week. The fires, the deadliest cluster in California history, have killed at least 41 people and destroyed nearly 6,000 homes.

"It's never going to be the same," said Rob Brown, a supervisor in Mendocino County, where all 8,000 evacuees were cleared to go home Monday. "You're going to have to seek a new normal."

The thousands of calls coming from concerned residents in neighbouring Sonoma County "have shifted from questions about evacuation to questions about coping," Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane said.

"Many people who call are sad and worried, the shock has worn off and the sadness, depression and loss is setting in."



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