Gov. Brown, Officials Hold Press Conference On Emergency Response To California Wildfires

Updated 11:15 a.m.

(AP) — California Gov. Jerry Brown says the state will spend whatever it takes to fight wildfires ravaging California that have wiped out more than 1,000 homes and killed eight people so far.

Brown said Wednesday at a press conference with emergency officials that the state's funding is in good economic shape thanks to a robust rainy day fund.

But the Democratic governor warned that about 17 fires now burning mostly in Northern California represent a new threat for firefighters and emergency officials.

He says they are being surprised and every year is teaching authorities new lessons. A wildfire near Redding that destroyed more than 1,000 homes is now the sixth-most destructive in state history. Officials said tornado-like winds whipped up the fire in unpredictable ways.