Rescues, Evacuations Under Way As More than 20 Fires Burn Across California.
BLITZER: We're following a very disturbing breaking news out in California where more rescues and evacuations are underway as dry windy conditions fuel more than 20 large wildfires across the state. Let's discuss with the chief of CAL FIRE, Thom Porter. Chief, thanks so much for joining us. How dire is the situation in California right now?</s>CHIEF THOM PORTER, CAL FIRE: Thank you, Wolf. It is really one to behold. We have now -- we were tracking this morning, 25 major fires. We've had an additional at least two that have occurred during the day today. Every one of those fires is being blown out by the east and northeast winds that we are seeing surface over the entire state. So, very dire situation. Our fighters, local government, CAL FIRE, and our federal partners are all fully engaged and really doing everything they can to protect lives and property. But these fires are going to continue to grow for several days.</s>BLITZER: Yeah, it's awful. More than 2 million acres have now been destroyed by these fires. These are the worst fires in California's history, we're told. What are the biggest obstacles, Chief, that you're facing right now as you're trying to get these historic fires under control?</s>PORTER: Really it changes. I mean, we've got fires burning from in the north part of the state, all the way to the Mexican border, about 800 miles between the furthest distant fires. So, we're stretched across the landscape. But there's also been a persistent drought over many years. We've had a few wet years but not enough to really change the fuel consumption issues that we're having. Very dry fuels north to south. And then when we have winds and we already have fires going, they just spread very quickly. We do have 150 million trees in the southern sierra several years ago. Those are fuelling which is the biggest and most concerning fire to us right now, the creek fire near Fresno do I know, that is -- it's just -- it's uncontrollable until we have a weather change.</s>BLITZER: Well, good luck, Chief Porter. We're hoping for the best. These are awful, awful fires, as we've been watching. Thanks so much for joining us.</s>PORTER: Thank you for your time.</s>BLITZER: All right. We're going to have more news just ahead. We'll be right back.