Dubbed as one of the most destructive fire emergencies in the history of California, the fires in the northern part of the state continue to rage as the death toll increased to 17.

The fires have affected approximately 100,000 acres, including Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, where hundreds of homes and commercial buildings have been destroyed.

According to California Fire officials, 11 of the fatalities are from the Sonoma County. Three are from Mendocino County, two are from Napa, and one from Yuba.

Earlier in the week, President Donald Trump approved a "major disaster declaration" for the state. He also offered words of comfort for the families of the victims. At the time of his statement, 13 people had died from the fires.

"Let me first say our hearts and the hearts of every American go out to the families of the 13 who've lost their lives," said the president. "It's heartbreaking to think that many of the fallen represent our most vulnerable; in some cases senior citizens who simply were not able to escape the flames that overcame their homes. They are in our prayers."

State firefighters are engaged in a tough battle against the wild fires. The Tubbs fire in Sonoma has already burned 27,000 acres, while the Atlas Peak fire in Napa has scorched 25,000 acres. These are the two largest fires that the California Fire officials are struggling to contain.

"Though our containment numbers haven't gone up just yet, we've at least been able to hold these fires and keep them at their current acreage," said the department's spokesman, Daniel Berlant.

Approximately 20,000 residents have evacuated their homes since Sunday night, while several thousand firefighters have been deployed to battle the fires. A number of strike teams have also been sent from southern California to help out with the fires, as well as helicopters from the California National Guard.