The fires in California’s Wine Country have left entire neighborhoods in cities like Santa Rosa in ruin.
As of Friday morning, at least 31 people have died from the fires that have engulfed over 212,000 acres in Northern California, according to The Los Angeles Times. Below are a number of videos taken by drones showing the scope of the wildfires that have ravaged Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano counties.
Ash-covered ground
The photography company Getty released drone footage on Friday that captured the destruction left behind. This overhead view of an unspecified residential area shows how one neighborhood was burned to the ground, with mounds of gray ash being all that remains of the destroyed homes.
Drone footage shows what is left after this week's devastating California wildfires. Https://t.co/nf8pBCT1O9pic.twitter.com/ieMX0KK8ZQ
— Getty Images (@GettyImages) October 12, 2017
Melted automobiles
USA Today released footage on Friday showing how the fires melted cars in addition to burning homes. Additionally, the footage captures store and businesses completely demolished by flames, surrounded by empty parking lots.
Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i6wDjEIUOw
Smoke fills the air
In this Associated Press video, a drone flies above a charred area of Santa Rosa, Calif. Smoke still hangs in the air, creating a hazy mist that looks like heavy fog. In one part of the video, the remnants of a home appears, its foundation being the only thing left standing.
Entire neighborhoods decimated
The Guardian posted a video from Santa Rosa showing a seemingly untouched park with green grass juxtaposed against a neighborhood that’s been obliterated by the fires.
Thousands of residents evacuated
In this Los Angeles Times video captured Wednesday in Santa Rosa, more neighborhoods are shown to be wiped out.
The Federal Aviation Administration released a notice on Friday warning people who fly drones near wildfires without proper authorization may be “violating Federal, State, and/or local laws, regulations, and ordinances, regardless of whether the FAA has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction.” Hobbyists should avoid flying their robots if it impedes the work of fire fighters.
Safety Alert for #drone pilots in #CA: #Wildfires and #drones don’t mix. If you fly, firefighters can’t. #FlySafehttps://t.co/4JO5vQiQDGpic.twitter.com/OQH6K7HBW5
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) October 13, 2017
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The notice warns that interfering with firefighters can “result in a significant fine and/or a mandatory court appearance.”
“So, be smart and just don’t fly your drone anywhere near a wildfire,” the notice said. “No amount of video or photos are worth the consequences.”