am. this has been a total loss for the people who lived here in middletown. but that doesn t mean the battle to stop this valley fire is over. raging fires sweeping across california. the valley fire devouring 600 homes and threatening another 9,000. now, the first death. a 72-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis under able to get out of her house. i m just driving around, i m in shock. and i m a fireman. what do you do? you have to keep working. reporter: 67,000 acres scorched so far. in this fire west of sacramento. which sent 13,000 people looking for shelter. east of the city, the butte fire has scorched 71,000 acres, forcing another 11,000 residents to flee. that fire has destroyed more than 160 homes. this is my street. make a left. and there s nothing there. so my house was right there.
we re doing everything we can to give you the best experience possible. because we should fit into your life. not the other way around. we re live at the ronald reagan presidential library in simi valley, california. we re counting down to the republican candidates debate right here on cnn. but we re also following other major stories as well including almost 600 homes already destroyed, 67,000 acres charred and the valley fire in northern california is still burning out of control. right now crews are fighting to save 9,000 homes being threatened by the flames. cnn s stephanie elam is in middletown, one of the hardest hit communities. she joins us live. what s the latest on this fire? well, wolf, when you take a look at it, you can see where i