SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two more fatalities confirmed by the Sonoma County Coroner's Office Tuesday night brought the total death toll to 17 in the north California fire, sheriff officials said.
The number of people previously declared missing in the massive wildfires in north California has been cut to about 180 after 57 were found alive in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco in western California, which was worst hit by the most devastating fires in the state's history, said Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano earlier Tuesday,
The people who were found back had lost contact with their loved ones due to downed cell phone towers destroyed in the blaze in Sonoma County, which is about 70 kilometers' drive from San Francisco, Giordano said.
Sonoma is the largest producer of California's Wine Country region, which also includes Napa, Mendocino, and Lake counties.
Giodano said many people have been reported missing from nursing homes, adding that a team of police officers will begin to excavate bodies possibly buried in the charred rubble.
Sonoma Raceway, the major car-racing venue in west California, has announced that it will open its 50 Acres campground, its largest facility, to evacuees seeking temporary refuge from the wildland blazes beginning Tuesday afternoon. The raceway is equipped to handle up to 2,000 campers during its major event weekends.
The deadly wildfires in north California have, by Tuesday, injured hundreds of people, who were treated for burns and smoke inhalation in hospitals.
The local KRON4 TV station showed thousands of structures, including business facilities, hospitals and homes, were burned and leveled to the ground in flames.
More than 3,000 people remain in shelters as about 20 wildfires have burned through 115,000 acres across California.
Wildfires statewide have left at least 2,000 structures destroyed, officials announced at a California Office of Emergency Services press conference.
Tens of thousands of households are without power in Sonoma County, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company is working to restore power to 50,260 customers impacted by the wildfires in the County.
About 28,000 customers have no access to gas service in Santa Rosa, Windsor, Yountville, Napa, and Kenwood, said Shirlee Zane, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
Many schools in the most-impacted counties remain closed for Tuesday and Wednesday, and Sonoma State University has been suspended for class for Wednesday, while Santa Rosa Junior College will be closed through Sunday.
