California wildfire evacuees return to survey damage

Some California homeowners in areas ravaged by wildfire are slowly being allowed back in to survey the damage and see if their homes are still standing.

Art Thomas, 76, said he found only ashes and melted metal at the site of the Vacaville home he built with his own hands in a rural area where he had lived for 32 years.

He said it only took about 45 minutes when he first saw the flames in the hills behind his home until the fire was on top of his house. Thomas said he escaped with his wife, two dogs and the clothes we was wearing.

Bob Zupo's Vacaville house survived, unlike the homes of three of his neighbors. But all the land around his property burned along with a barn he owned.

Zupo, 68, attributed his good fortune to "the grace of God," hung a sign on his mailbox that said, "Thank You All" and put up an American flag as he assessed the damage.

Lightning-sparked fires that have grown to some of the largest in state history have pushed firefighters to the breaking point as they also deal with complications from the coronavirus pandemic and depleted inmate crews.

For now, cooler temperatures are helping firefighters begin to corral three huge clusters of fires ignited in Northern California August 15.

The blazes have killed at least seven people, burned nearly 1,300 homes and other buildings, and prompted evacuation orders that still affect an estimated 170,000 people.

(Image Credit: AP)