Photos show how wildfires are ravaging parts of California's wine country

Jeff Chiu/AP

Massive wildfires engulfed huge swaths of Northern California's wine country on Monday, destroying at least 1,500 homes, businesses, and other structures, and sending residents fleeing for their lives. The largest fires had not been contained as of Tuesday morning.

An estimated 20,000 people in the counties of Napa, Sonoma, and six others have evacuated the area, which is known for its vineyards and wineries. More than a dozen fires ignited on Sunday and grew as strong, dry winds spread the flames over fields and freeways.

A blaze called the Tubbs Fire has burned more than 27,000 acres in and around the city of Santa Rosa, according to the Cal Fire website. The Atlas Fire in Napa has devastated an additional 25,000 acres. Firefighters were still battling the fires on Tuesday morning.

Eleven people have been reported dead, with many more missing. Nearby school and hospitals are closed. Nearly 35,000 people are without power throughout the state, CNN reported.

We will continue to update this story throughout the day.

Napa and Sonoma counties are the top winemaking regions in America.

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

There is the city of Napa and the county of Napa, considered the holy grail of wine country. It's home to more than 400 wineries, with many packed side by side along State Route 29.

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We went to Napa and the trendy destination people are ditching it for — and the winner is clear »

Sonoma County stretches across nine cities and is three times the area of Napa County.

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California's lesser-known wine destination was named the best small town to visit in America — take a look »

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