1,400 homes destroyed in new wildfire

A new wildfire in Northern California has destroyed more than 10 homes in Monterey County, a week after two other wildfires killed five people and destroyed at least 1,400 homes.

This revelation was made today by officers of the the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection disclosed on Sunday, September 20, 2015.

The fire burning about 2 miles north of the community of Jamesburg in Monterey County, rapidly reached 1,200-acres after starting Saturday, September 19, 2015 afternoon, the department further said.

Farther north, two wildfires have destroyed 1,400 homes and continue to threaten thousands more, fire officials said.

Already, the damage assessment teams have counted 888 homes burned in Lake County, many of them in the town of Middletown.

Speaking to the media, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman, Daniel Berlant said teams are getting access to affected areas as firefighters make progress but that the count is far from over.

"Our damage assessment team continues to go in and count home by home, structure by structure but they still have a ways to go before they are finished," Berlant said.

Residents of Middletown, the area hardest hit by the massive wildfire in Lake County, were allowed to return home Saturday afternoon. Evacuation orders for other areas in Lake County remained.

The Lake County fire tore through 62 square miles in 12 hours, causing thousands of residents to flee after it ignited a week ago. About 19,000 people were ordered to evacuate.