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Camp Fire evacuees from Butte County, California, are coming together to help their neighbors, provide basic necessities, and plan their next steps toward rebuilding.
UNITED STATES TODAY & # 39; HUI
A Search and Rescue Officer searches for human remains in a car looking for a campground exhausted from the camp fire of November 13, 2018 in Paradise, California.(Photo: John Locher, AP)
California authorities Wednesday released the names of nearly 100 people missing since the start of the deadliest fire in California's history last week.
The death toll reaches 48 and continues to increase – and other people could be discovered by evacuees returning home, warned Butte County Sheriff, Kory Honea.
"If you see someone on the list who is missing, contact us so that their name can be removed," he said.
Honea said deliberate searches in the rubble of the campfire, located 90 miles north of Sacramento, were continuing. But he acknowledged that "the very, very difficult task" of looking for leftovers could mean that when residents return to burnt homes, they might discover remains themselves in the midst of carnage.
"I know it's a very hard thing to think about," Honea said, noting that anyone discovering a fire victim should immediately notify his office.
Death toll, destruction increases
The number of homes, businesses and other structures destroyed by the campfire rose to more than 8,000 on Wednesday, said Cal Fire. And 500 miles south, the Woolsey fire burning west of Los Angeles has been blamed for at least two deaths. Authorities were investigating the report of a third body found. The fire destroyed more than 450 homes and businesses, said Cal Fire.
Secretary of the Interior Zinke will visit fire zones
Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, announced that he would be traveling to areas of California affected by forest fires, if conditions permit. Zinke was due to go to areas affected by the camp fire in northern California on Wednesday before heading to the burned Woolsey area on Thursday. President Donald Trump said he had approved an expedited request for a major disaster declaration for the state.
More: How are forest fires starting? Just a spark
More: The death toll of an "unprecedented" camp fire rises to 48
Encouraging News on Woolsey Fire
Chief Daryl Osby of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said the firefighters were progressing against the 47 percent fire at Woolsey. This despite the Santa Ana winds that rocked the region with gusts of up to 45 mph and predictions that it will not rain until at least the end of next week. "(We are) getting the upper hand here … There is a lot of confidence in the containment and control of this fire, we are feeling better, our containment percentages have increased," said Osby.
Colder weather slows fire camp growth
Chilly weather and wind breaks slowed down the growth of the campfire, said Cal Fire. The fire, which burned more than 200 square miles and destroyed the city of Paradise, was ranked at 35%. The fire burned more than 150 square miles.
Investigation into the cause of a campfire
Cal Fire kept people out of the area where he started while he was investigating the cause of the fire. Butte District Attorney Mike Ramsey also locked the area where the fire began to protect from a possible criminal investigation. A spokesman for PG & E declined Tuesday to say if the work on the power lines had anything to do with the ignition of the fire. "The cause of the camp fire has not been determined.Cal Fire investigates the cause of the fire," said Paul Moreno, a spokesman for PG & E.
That's how forest fires begin
Fatal fires can start with something as simple as a power line dropped to the ground, a flat tire or a cigarette butt. Once a fire is on, the combination of wind, heat, oxygen and fuel (dry forests, forests, scrub, etc.) can cause an explosion. At the beginning of the Earth's history, almost all wildfires had been triggered by lightning. Today, according to a comprehensive study of 2017 published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 84% of forest fires in the United States are caused by people.
No pets – OK, they can stay
The signs stuck on the windows of Pierce College's gym in Woodland Hills are clear: "No animals." But inside, a giant tortoise is … slowly … doing … tricks … in the lobby of The Pierce College Gymnasium. The university canceled its classes because of the Woolsey fire and turned its gym into an emergency evacuation center of the Red Cross. Many evacuees have left their homes in a hurry and cats and dogs are a fact of life in the shelter. "What we do know is that people love their animals and that we are here to help," said Allison Cardona, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Monitoring.
Pink's husband warns looters
Carey Hart, husband of Pink singer, has made it clear that he was not afraid to exercise his second-amendment rights against looters in areas damaged by the Woolsey fire in the west. from Los Angeles. The former motocross star has posted on Instagram a photo of a dozen armed men standing in front of a sign saying "Looters will be shot on the spot". Hart commented under the photo that he was not one of the masked men, adding "If you are a looter, think twice about returning to Malibu."
Contributors: Doyle Rice, Sandy Hooper, Cydney Henderson, Kristin Lam, Steve Kiggins
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