Climate Changed
High Winds Fan California Fires as Blaze Erupts Near Los Angeles
- Damage from wildfires seen as on par with Hurricane Michael
- Shares of utility owners PG&E and Edison fall sharply
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The wildfires that killed at least 31 in California became some of the worst in state history as high winds and “extreme conditions” drove flames across bone-dry hills and mountains. A second blaze erupted on the fringe of the Los Angeles area.
The Camp Fire in Northern California and the Woolsey Fire in suburban Los Angeles have destroyed more than 6,700 structures and could cost the state, insurers and homeowners at least $19 billion in damage. The state’s two largest utilities both fell sharply, with Northern California’s PG&E Corp. losing as much as 38 percent, the most intraday in 16 years.