ADVERTISEMENT

Aerial photos reveal the shocking damage of California's deadliest wildfire on record

Aerial photos show how the scale of destruction in fire-ravaged Northern California.

A series of fires that have ravaged Northern California since Sunday has now been called the deadliest wildfire disaster in state history. The death toll reached 29 on Thursday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seven fires ignited near Highway 128 in the Napa Valley late Sunday, and grew as gusty winds spread the flames over fields and freeways. Now, nearly two dozen fires across eight California counties have destroyed 3,500 buildings and burned more than 191,000 acres — a collective area nearly the size of New York City. Firefighters were still battling the flames on Thursday.

After the smoke cleared, helicopters and drones flew over the most devastated areas of Northern California to survey the damage. Here are the aerial photos.

An entire neighborhood was leveled in the fires in Santa Rosa. The neighborhood of Coffey Park — a small community made up of single-family homes — lost hundreds of homes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Coffey Park has been described as a "little slice of the American dream," where a vibrant mix of Latinos, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Indians, and white people lived in modest homes.

From above, you can make out the erratic nature of the burn. In a cul-de-sac, homes on one side of the street were charred in the flames, but a colorful few appeared to be unscathed.

Coffey Park, which gives the neighborhood its name, was also untouched.

Nearly all of the 160 units at the Journey's End mobile home park in Santa Rosa were turned to rubble. The residential community is mostly home to people ages 55 and older.

Residents fled the park early on Monday with little but the clothes on their backs.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Kmart store in Santa Rosa was razed to the ground after the fire on Monday.

The Tubbs fire, the largest of the fires in Sonoma, charred a sports field in Santa Rosa.

Even the aluminum wheels on cars melted and ran like rivers of mercury down driveways.

A neighborhood in northern Santa Rosa became engulfed in smoke.

All that remains of an Arby's in Santa Rosa is the chain's characteristic red-and-white sign.

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

10 best airports in Africa in 2024

10 best airports in Africa in 2024

10 most expensive cities in Africa in 2024

10 most expensive cities in Africa in 2024

Illegal money changers adapt to Zimbabwe's ZiG currency rollout

Illegal money changers adapt to Zimbabwe's ZiG currency rollout

Zimbabwe's ZiG currency printing contingent on reserve sufficiency

Zimbabwe's ZiG currency printing contingent on reserve sufficiency

The global workforce is set to collapse without Africa

The global workforce is set to collapse without Africa

500 millionaires fall off in Kenya - here’s why

500 millionaires fall off in Kenya - here’s why

Top 10 African countries with the most centi-millionaires in 2024

Top 10 African countries with the most centi-millionaires in 2024

7 most influential Africans in the world 2024 -TIME

7 most influential Africans in the world 2024 -TIME

5 African countries with the least expensive freelancers

5 African countries with the least expensive freelancers

ADVERTISEMENT