79 people killed in camp fire in California as the number of missing drops reaches 699: NPR



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Jacob Saylors, 11, is walking through the burnt remains of his home in paradise, California on Sunday. His family lost a home in the same place after a fire 10 years earlier.

Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images


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Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images

Jacob Saylors, 11, is walking through the burnt remains of his home in paradise, California on Sunday. His family lost a home in the same place after a fire 10 years earlier.

Josh Edelson / AFP / Getty Images

Updated at 22:25 E.T.

California authorities added two new victims Monday night to the camp fire report, bringing the total death toll to at least 79.

The number of people not counted decreased to 699 – about 300 less than Sunday and 600 less than Saturday.

At least 82 people have died throughout the state since the fire broke out earlier this month. Three of these deaths were related to the Woolsey fire in southern California.

The authorities have not yet declared the official cause of the fires and are investigating their origins.

In an update regarding a camp fire Monday morning, the authorities described their progress in controlling the deadliest forest fire in the state's history.

"The fire activity has varied from night to moderate in various areas of the fire perimeter, with firefighters continuing to strengthen and improve the lines of control," they said. "The teams will continue to set up containment lines, monitor the heat inside and mitigate the risk in the fire zone."

The fire burned about 151,000 acres and is under control by 70% as of Monday night. More than 4,700 workers fight the flames. The authorities say that they do not expect the fire to be fully controlled by November 30th.

Several search and rescue teams, as well as teams using dead dogs to detect human remains, are assisting the Butte County Sheriff's Office, authorities said.

More than 11,700 single-family homes and nearly 3,000 other buildings were destroyed. The entire Paradise community in Northern California was reduced to a wasteland and burned buildings and cars in the fire that began shortly after 6:30 am local time on November 8th.

Authorities continue to maintain a real-time evacuation map and a map of structural damage.

About 500 miles to the south, in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, the Woolsey fire is also still burning.

The fire burned 96,949 acres and is controlled to 96%, the authorities said in their statement. Monday night update. Hundreds of people are actively fighting this fire.

Almost all evacuation orders have been lifted, but that does not mean evacuees will be able to return home. The damage assessment teams counted 1,500 structures destroyed by the flames.

Authorities say they expect the Woolsey fire to be fully contained by Thanksgiving Day.

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