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Wildfire evacuations in California's wine country

A wind-driven wildfire erupted on Sunday (September 27) in the heart of northern California's Napa Valley wine country that spread across nearly 2,000 acres, forcing the evacuation of several hundred homes and a hospital.

Authorities said the fire, dubbed the Glass Fire, broke out before dawn near the city of Calistoga -- flames then advanced to within a mile of the Adventist Health St. Helena hospital.

Hospital spokeswoman Linda Williams told Reuters all 55 patients at the hospital were safely evacuated over the course of five hours.

It was the second wildfire-related evacuation of the hospital since August.

The blaze erupted midway through the traditional grape-harvesting period in the Napa Valley, California's world-renowned wine-producing region.

According to the Napa Valley Vintners trade group, the area's 475 wineries account for half the retail value of all California wines sold.

The cause of the Glass Fire is still under investigation, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

According to CalFire, some 5000 people have been affected by evacuation orders so far.

California wildfires have scorched more than 3.7 million acres so far this year, far exceeding any single year in state history, killing over two dozen people and destroying more than 7,000 structures.