At least 17 people are dead, another eight are missing and over two dozen are injured in California from weather-related incidents, according to Santa Barbara County officials. The southern part of the state has been drenched with heavy rain just weeks after several fires scorched the area.

Flash flooding, debris flow and mudslides are punishing the communities hit hard by the Thomas and La Tuna fires, prompting "dozens and dozens" of rescues on the ground, a spokesperson from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department told ABC News.

At least 28 people had been wounded in the storm as of Thursday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Others are feared to be dead and buried beneath the mud.

More than 500 first responders and 10 dogs are working on the search-and-rescue efforts in the region, focusing on a list of missing people and their addresses, fire officials said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Hundreds of people have already been rescued, many of whom had to be hoisted out of the mud-filled area by aircraft, Brown said. Read more at ABC News