Flames approaching rolling hills of grapevines in Sonoma County, which is the heart of California’s world-famous wine country (Getty photo)
  • The Kincade fire spread to about 1,000 acres by 11pm Wednesday night, according to dispatch reports
  • As of Thursday morning, Cal Fire reported that the blaze near Geyserville has grown to about 10,000 acres 
  • Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that residents had to flee their homes overnight due to the blaze
  • National Weather Service (NWS) says winds have been blowing at speeds up to 70mph in the Sonoma area
  • Meanwhile, portions of Northern California remain in the dark after Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) cut power 
  • More than 500K residents are in dark in bid to prevent fires from sparking during dry and windy conditions

By VALERIE EDWARDS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
UPDATED: 09:47 EDT, 24 October 2019

Hundreds of California residents have been forced to evacuate after a wind-driven wildfire spread overnight as 500,000 people are left without power in the Golden State’s second planned blackout in two weeks. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) says winds around the highest areas of Sonoma County have been blowing at speeds up to 70mph, and elsewhere in the region there are winds between 30mph and 50mph.

According to dispatch reports, the Kincade fire spread to about 1,000 acres by 11 pm Wednesday night. 

As of Thursday morning, Cal Fire, the state firefighting agency, says the blaze near Geyserville has grown to 10,000 acres and has no containment.

The Sonoma County sheriff’s office confirmed that residents had to flee their homes overnight due to the blaze. 

Hundreds of California residents have been forced to evacuate after a wind-driven wildfire spread overnight. Embers fly from a tree as the Kincade Fire burns near Geyserville, California, on Thursday
Hundreds of California residents have been forced to evacuate after a wind-driven wildfire spread overnight. Embers fly from a tree as the Kincade Fire burns near Geyserville, California, on Thursday

Click for more detail, dramatic photos, and maps of affected areas.

Related news stories and video:
Evacuations in place as 10,000-acre wildfire burns in Sonoma County

500,000 Californians in the dark, more outages likely as fires rage in Sonoma, San Bernardino counties

Kincade Fire in Sonoma County now at 10,000 acres

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