Fueled by dry winds, fire rages in wine country

Flames from the Glass Fire consume the Black Rock Inn, late Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Helena, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Cal Fire Capt. Jesse Campbell works to save the Louis Stralla Water Treatment Plant as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

An air tanker drops retardant while battling the Glass Fire in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Embers fly from a tree as the Glass Fire burns in St. Helena, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A firefighter runs to his firetruck while protecting a home along Crystal Springs Road while battling the Glass Fire in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group via AP)

ST. HELENA, California — Giant blazes taking down buildings, residents fleeing their homes, exhausted firefighters working around the clock: These are some of the scenes from the wildfire that exploded in the Northern California wine country.

Fueled by dry winds, The Glass Fire has raged through Napa and Sonoma counties, quickly tripling in size, burning homes and nowhere near containement. But fire officials were more confident Monday evening, when the winds eased a bit.

The dramatic images are a testament to the fierceness of the fire and the determination of the firefighters: a bright red streak in the sky marks the spot where an air tanker dropped fire retardant; an inn engulfed in flames lights up the sky; embers fly off a tree in a scene reminiscent of fireworks; a tired firefighter rubs his face as he leans against a fire truck; elderly residents being evacuated from a senior home are helped onto a bus.

The Glass Fire is one of nearly 30 wildfires burning around California and the National Weather Service warned that hot, dry conditions with strong Santa Ana winds could remain a fire danger in Southern California.