Authorities in Ventura County, Calif., confirmed the first-fire related death Friday as strong winds continued to whip a massive firestorm across South California -- leaving a charred path of destruction. Virginia Pesola, 70, of Santa Paula, died Wednesday as a result of crash injuries, smoke inhalation and burns, the county medical examiner’s office said in a statement. Pesola was found along an evacuation route near a fire northwest of Los Angeles. This week's California wildfires have destroyed more than 700 homes and buildings, and left hundreds of thousands of people fleeing from the infernos, which have burned nearly 260 square miles since Monday. However, new fires continue to ignite and the danger threat still remains as lack of rain has left vegetation extremely dry.

Source: Fox News December 09, 2017 05:09 UTC