Sonoma Officials: Fire Recovery Will Take Years

(AP) - Sonoma County officials are cautioning a full recovery from wildfires that devastated Northern California earlier this month could take years.

But Sheriff Rob Giordano says he has seen remarkable resolve from community members and first responders. He is speaking at a memorial ceremony in Santa Rosa, one of the hardest-hit cities from the nearly two dozen wildfires.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared Saturday a "Day of Remembrance" for the wildfires victims. At least 42 people died.

Officials are praising fire responders who refused to leave the front lines of the fire as well as those who provided them food, water and resources as they battled the flames.

California fire officials have updated the number of buildings destroyed by the wildfires to 8,900.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency say they've given out more than $6 million in individual assistance. The Environmental Protection Agency says it has assessed 740 properties for hazardous waste in Napa and Sonoma counties.