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California wildfires erupt in LA, burn in wine country

Santa Rosa, California • Firefighters battled destructive wildfires in Northern California wine country and on the west side of Los Angeles on Monday, trying to beat back flames that forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.

California's biggest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, cut off power to an estimated 2.5 million people in the northern part of the state over the weekend in yet another round of blackouts aimed at preventing windblown electrical equipment from sparking more fires. And more shut-offs are possible in the next few days.

The fire that broke out last week amid Sonoma County's vineyards and wineries north of San Francisco grew to at least 103 square miles (267 square kilometers), destroying 94 buildings, including 40 homes, and threatening 80,000 more structures, authorities said.