More than a dozen wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through California wine country destroying at least 1500 homes and businesses, and sending an estimated 20,000 scrambling to safety.
At least 10 people are dead, with one of the victims killed in a fire further north, in Mendocino County.
Numerous people had been hurt and some were missing, although no estimates were immediately available, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott.
Later he said there were likely fatalities.
Here are the images from the California fires:![Multiple Wildfires Destroy Homes, Threaten California Wine Country](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/gettyimages-859436466.jpg?imwidth=1280)
![Multiple Wildfires Destroy Homes, Threaten California Wine Country](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/gettyimages-859436454.jpg?imwidth=1280)
![Fire burns from an open gas valve near the pool area at the Journey's End mobile home park on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/fireff.jpg?imwidth=1280)
![October, 9: Wine bottles destroyed in California wildfires.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/gettyimages-859498392_0.jpg?imwidth=1280)
![Multiple Wildfires Destroy Homes, Threaten California Wine Country](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/gettyimages-859436442.jpg?imwidth=1280)
![Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a home as they battle a wildfire in Anaheim Hills, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/20171010001319832513-minihighres_2.jpg?imwidth=1280)
![Smoke rises as a wildfire burns in the hills east of Napa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/20171010001319841953-minihighres.jpg?imwidth=1280)
![Multiple Wildfires Destroy Homes, Threaten California Wine Country](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/gettyimages-859436466.jpg?imwidth=1280)
A resident rushes to save his home as an out of control wildfire moves through the area on October 9, 2017 in Glen Ellen, California. Source: Getty Images North America
![Multiple Wildfires Destroy Homes, Threaten California Wine Country](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/gettyimages-859436454.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Fire consumes a barn as an out of control wildfire moves through the area on October 9, 2017. Source: Getty Images North America
![Fire burns from an open gas valve near the pool area at the Journey's End mobile home park on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Santa Rosa, Calif.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/fireff.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Fire burns from an open gas valve near the pool area at the Journey's End mobile home park on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Santa Rosa, California (AAP) Source: AAP
![October, 9: Wine bottles destroyed in California wildfires.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/gettyimages-859498392_0.jpg?imwidth=1280)
October, 9: Wine bottles destroyed in California wildfires. Source: Getty Images
![Multiple Wildfires Destroy Homes, Threaten California Wine Country](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/gettyimages-859436442.jpg?imwidth=1280)
OCTOBER 09: A resident rushes to save his home as an out of control wildfire moves through the area on October 9, 2017. Source: Getty Images North America
![Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a home as they battle a wildfire in Anaheim Hills, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/20171010001319832513-minihighres_2.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a home as they battle a wildfire in Anaheim Hills, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Source: AAP
![Smoke rises as a wildfire burns in the hills east of Napa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017.](https://images.sbs.com.au/drupal/news/public/20171010001319841953-minihighres.jpg?imwidth=1280)
Smoke rises as a wildfire burns in the hills east of Napa, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Source: AAP