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Authorities fear that the showers, even when they dispel the smothering smoke and help extinguish the flames, cause landslides and floods in the areas affected by the state's worst fire, which complicates the search for remains. The rain could also exacerbate the misery of those forced to leave their homes, some of whom live in tented camps outside.
Two weeks after the start of the devastating fire, 563 people are still missing, said Butte County Sheriff and Coroner Kory Honea. Of the people killed, at least 58 of them were provisionally identified as rescue teams sifting through the debris, searching for the remains of their loved ones.
The rain could complicate the process of cleaning ash and debris and create difficult conditions for firefighters, officials said.
It has been raining for several hours in the city of Paradise, which was destroyed by the fire. Gene Norman, a meteorologist at CNN, said a flood watch would remain in effect until Friday morning.
1 million people are under flood surveillance
Nearly one million people are under flood surveillance in this part of California, where 4 to 6 inches of rain are expected until Friday. The rain began to fall in paradise Wednesday, with almost an inch falling in the late afternoon. Potential showers could end the fire season or at least mitigate risks while bringing new hazards.
"The rapid rise of water could flood roads, hinder research efforts and put displaced IDPs outside the camp at risk," Norman said.
Searching for missing to be "much more difficult"
The first episode of heavy rain is expected to affect Butte County. The heaviest quantities will come from Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon, with forecasts ranging from 2.5 to 4 inches during this 24-hour period.
When it rains, it will have major effects on the debris.
Evacuees flee, some are preparing for the flood
In Butte County, locals prepared for a possible flood.
Debrunner said that she knew that the rain would bring "a lot of mud, a lot of cold" to the area. But this Thanksgiving week, Debrunner said she was grateful to her family for borrowing a RV.
Cady Machado was camping in a Walmart car park with her husband and 9-month-old baby.
As for her and her husband?
"There is a nice bridge with my name to pass on, where I will not be flooded by my husband," she told KTXL.
Woolsey Fire now content
CNN's Paul Vercammen, Silvio Carrillo and Jeff King in Paradise, California, and Steve Almasy of CNN, Joe Sutton, Stella Chan, Tayor Ward, Holly Yan and Amir Vera contributed to the writing of this report.
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