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Charred wine bottles rest at Castello di Amorosa, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Easing winds gave California firefighters a break Tuesday as they battled a destructive wildfire that was driven by strong winds through wine country north of San Francisco and another rural blaze that killed three people.
Breezes replaced the powerful gusts that sent the Glass Fire raging through Napa and Sonoma counties Sunday and Monday, scorching more than 66 square miles (170 square kilometers).
At least 95 buildings have burned in wine country, including homes and winery installations. A wildfire burning farther north in rural Shasta County has destroyed another 146 buildings.
The fire in wine country pushed through brush that had not burned for a century, even though surrounding areas were incinerated in a series of blazes in recent years.
As the winds eased Monday evening, firefighters were feeling "much more confident," said Ben Nicholls, a division chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.
"We don't have those critical burning conditions that we were experiencing those last two nights," he said.
Hand crews walk along a hillside which was burned by the Martindale Fire, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Glass Fire in wine country is one of nearly 30 wildfires burning around California. The National Weather Service warned that hot, dry conditions with strong Santa Ana winds could continue posing a fire danger in Southern California through Tuesday afternoon.
In a forested far northern part of the state, more than 1,200 people were evacuated in Shasta County for the Zogg Fire, which has burned at least 62 square miles (160 square kilometers).
Three people have died in the fire, Shasta County Sheriff Eric Magrini said Monday. He gave no details but urged people who receive evacuation orders: "Do not wait."
Tom Smith stares at a burning home on Platina Road after refusing to evacuate from the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger wildfires in America to climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas. Scientists say climate change has made California much drier, meaning trees and other plants are more flammable.
Residences are widely scattered in Shasta County, which was torched just two years ago by the deadly Carr Fire - infamously remembered for producing a huge tornado-like fire whirl.
The Pacific Gas & Electric utility had cut power to more than 100,000 customers in advance of gusty winds and in areas with active fire zones. The utility's equipment has caused previous disasters, including the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 people and devastated the town of Paradise in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
By Monday night, the utility said it had restored electricity to essentially all of those customers. However, PG&E said about 24,000 people remained without power in areas affected by two fires in Napa, Sonoma, Shasta and Tehama counties.
An air tanker drops retardant while battling the Glass Fire in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
So far in this year's historic fire season, more than 8,100 California wildfires have killed 29 people, scorched 5,780 square miles (14,970 square kilometers) and destroyed more than 7,000 buildings.
The Glass Fire began Sunday as three fires merged and drove into vineyards and mountain areas, including part of the city of Santa Rosa. About 70,000 people were under evacuation orders, including the entire 5,000-plus population of Calistoga in Napa County.
Some people were injured and Sonoma County sheriff's deputies had to rescue people who ignored evacuation orders, officials said.
Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin, who lives in Santa Rosa, said she was stuck in two hours of heavy traffic Monday night to reach safety.
Gorin's home was damaged in another fire three years ago and she was rebuilding it. She saw three neighboring houses in flames as she fled.
"We're experienced with that," she said of the fires. "Once you lose a house and represent thousands of folks who've lost homes, you become pretty fatalistic that this is a new way of life and, depressingly, a normal way of life, the megafires that are spreading throughout the West."
Gorin said it appeared the fire in her area was sparked by embers from the Glass Fire.
A damaged vehicle and wine warehouse stand, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., at Castello di Amorosa, which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Ed Yarbrough, a wildfire evacuee from St. Helena in Napa County, watched firefighters douse flames across from his house Monday.
"I can see in the distance that it looks like it's intact," he said but said spot fires were still being doused.
"So I know we're not really out of the woods yet, and the woods can burn," he said.
The fires came as the region approaches the anniversary of the 2017 fires, including one that killed 22 people. Just a month ago, many of those same residents were evacuated from the path of a lightning-sparked fire that became the fourth-largest in state history.
"Our firefighters have not had much of a break, and these residents have not had much of a break," said Daniel Berlant, an assistant deputy director with Cal Fire.
Officials did not have an estimate of the number of homes destroyed or burned, but the blaze engulfed the Chateau Boswell Winery in St. Helena and at least one five-star resort.
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Associated Press reporters Christopher Weber and John Antczak in Los Angeles, Juliet Williams in San Francisco and Haven Daley in Santa Rosa, California, contributed to this report.
Winery workers Carlos Perez, left, and Jose Juan Perez extinguish hotspots at Castello di Amorosa, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Smoke rises over a vineyard as the Glass Fire burns, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Cellar worker Jose Juan Perez extinguishes hotspots at Castello di Amorosa, which was damaged in the Glass Fire, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Charred framing remains, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at the Restaurant at Meadowood, which burned in the Glass Fire, in St. Helena, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A staircase stands, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at the Restaurant at Meadowood, which burned in the Glass Fire, in St. Helena, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A chimney stands, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at the Restaurant at Meadowood, which burned in the Glass Fire, in St. Helena, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A helicopter makes a water drop over the advancing Martindale Fire, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
FILE - In this Spet. 14, 2020, file photo, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler speaks, during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washingto. Wheeler has ridiculed California Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Wheeler sent Newsom a letter on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. The letter noted the proposal would increase electricity demand in a state that has a record of rolling blackouts. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool,File)
Fire crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department watch an air tanker drop retardant onto the Martindale Fire, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
A helicopter drops water over a fire crew while fighting the Martindale Fire, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
A plane drops retardant over the Martindale Fire, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Martindale Fire burns on a hillside, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Santa Clarita, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Winery worker Carlos Perez, left, walks, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., through Castello di Amorosa, which was damaged in the Glass Fire. Perez helped build the wine cellar that was scorched in the blaze. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Charred wine bottles rest at Castello di Amorosa, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Georg Salzner, president and CEO of Castello di Amorosa, sprays water on a building at the property, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Georg Salzner, president and CEO of Castello di Amorosa, sprays water on a building, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Charred wine bottles rest at Castello di Amorosa, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Cellar worker Jose Juan Perez sprays water on burning debris at Castello di Amorosa, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
People take pictures at a vista point with the San Francisco skyline obscured by smoke from wildfires and heat in the background Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, near Sausalito, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Smoke wafts past power lines as the Glass Fire burns in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames consume an Oakmont neighborhood home as the Glass Fire burns in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames consume an Oakmont neighborhood home as the Glass Fire burns in Santa Rosa, Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames consume an Oakmont neighborhood home as the Glass Fire burns in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A firefighter carries hose while battling the Glass Fire in the Skyhawk neighborhood of Santa Rosa, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Private firefighter Bradcus Schrandt, right, holds an injured kitten while Joe Catterson assists, at the Zogg Fire near Ono, Calif., on Sunday, Sep. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Embers fly from a tree as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Eddy Whitmore evacuates from his Santa Rosa, Calif., home as the Shady Fire approaches on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
An emergency vehicle drives along Silverado Trail as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Residents of the Oakmont Gardens senior home evacuate by bus as the Shady Fire approaches Santa Rosa Calif., Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Smoke rises over a vineyard as the Glass Fire burns, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Charred wine bottles rest at Castello di Amorosa, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, in Calistoga, Calif., which was damaged in the Glass Fire. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
