At least 31 people are now confirmed dead in the wildfires sweeping northern California. <br /><br />Officials say progress in battling the blazes is being made, but fears are high the death toll could surge. Hundreds of people are still missing. <br /><br />In the town Calistoga, immediately in the line of fire, the mayor warned residents on Thursday that anyone refusing to evacuate would be left to fend for themselves. <br /><br />“This is a mandatory evacuation. Your presence in Calistoga is not welcome if you are not a first responder. Your choice to stay, and there have been very few of them, is a distraction to our first responders. You will not be given life safety support at this point. You are on your own,” Calistoga’s Mayor, Chris Canning said. <br /><br />Around 8,000 firefighters are now battling more than 20 blazes in California’s famous wine country, the deadliest in the state since 1933.<br /><br />Fanned by strong winds some 3500 homes and businesses have been destroyed by flames since Sunday. <br /><br />The cause of the fires is still under investigation.<br />
