California wildfires: 31 Killed, fire official says it is deadliest week in state history

The raging, out-of-control wildfires across California have now killed at least 31 people, marking the deadliest week of wildfires in state history, officials said on Thursday.

The largest fires were in Northern California's Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino, littering the landscape with charred rubble and clouds of smoke.

Almost 8,000 firefighters are trying to contain the blazes, officials said Thursday. They're using 820 firetrucks in which at least 170 from out of state, 73 helicopters and more than 30 planes.

According to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said some 190,000 acres had been scorched across the state as high winds and dry conditions spread the fires with frightening speed.

Why have these fires been so destructive?

Wildfires often break out in California in October after the state's dry, sunny summers. But this year, the fires are worse because of record heat over the summer and high winds, which can swiftly turn the smallest fires into fast-moving infernos. Meanwhile, the weather experts said that this year's outbreak was a long time in the making.

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