California wildfires

The "Valley Fire" has destroyed 1,050 structures, and despite being 69 percent contained, it is still threatening thousands of other homes.

Years of drought have helped fuel two fast-moving blazes near San Francisco. Jerry Brown said his emergency declaration will speed up the removal of debris caused by the fires.

Nine of the largest fires cover areas of at least 1,000 acres each; a firefighter from Rapid City, S.D., was killed while battling one large blaze in Northern California.