Death toll jumps to 23 as California battles wildfires
"The era of megafires: the crisis facing California and what will happen next"
CBS/AP November 11, 2018, 1:20 AM
VIDEO
The most destructive wildfire in California history leveled nearly the entire city of Paradise as firefighters battled massive fires on both sides of the state. At least 23 people were killed by the so-called Camp Fire in Butte County, authorities said. Most of the buildings in Paradise are in ruin and its business district is destroyed.
Only a day after the Camp Fire began, the blaze had destroyed more than 6,700 structures, almost all of them homes. Authorities said there were 110 people still missing.
"We are doing everything we possibly can to identify those remains and make contact with the next of kin so we can return the remains to the family," Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Saturday evening.
The Camp Fire is just one of three major wildfires that firefighters are battling across the state. The 70,000-acre Woolsey Fire tore through Malibu mansions and working-class suburban homes in Southern California's hills and canyons. In less than two days, the Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire, which is also burning in Southern California, prompted evacuation orders for more than 250,000 people.
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Follow California wildfires updates below:
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Firefighter union president rips Trump
Brian K. Rice, the president of the California Professional Firefighters, criticized President Trump on Saturday after he threatened to withhold federal payments to the state, claiming its forest management is "so poor." The president made the comments as the state is battling multiple deadly wildfires.
"The president's message attacking California and threatening to withhold aid to the victims of the cataclysmic fires is ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning to those who are suffering as well as the men and women on the front lines," Brian K. Rice said in a statement.
"Wildfires are sparked and spread not only in forested areas but in populated areas and open fields fueled by parched vegetation, high winds, low humidity and geography," Rice said.
He added, "Moreover, nearly 60 percent of California forests are under federal management, and another two-thirds under private control. It is the federal government that has chosen to divert resources away from forest management, not California."
3 major fires by the numbers
Firefighters are battling three major wildfires in California. Here's a breakdown by the numbers as of Saturday evening, according to Cal Fire and local officials.
The Camp Fire
Location: Butte County 105,000 acres burned 20 percent contained 23 fatalities confirmed, 3 firefighters injured 115 people missing 6,453 residences destroyed, including 260 commercial
Woolsey Fire
Location: Ventura County 83,000 acres burned 200,000 residents under mandatory evacuation Zero percent contained
Hill Fire
Location: Ventura County 4,531 acres burned 25 percent contained
An abandoned and burned school bus is seen on Skyway during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S. November 9, 2018. STEPHEN LAM / REUTERS
More towns empty in Northern California
Authorities in Northern California have ordered residents to leave four small communities southeast of a town leveled by a deadly wildfire. The Butte County Sheriff's Office on Saturday issued an evacuation order for the communities of Berry Creek, Bush Creek, Mountain House, and Bloomer Hill.
National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Hoon says the area will see winds of up to 30 miles per hour with ridges seeing gusts of up to 50 mph starting Saturday night.
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The National Weather Service Los Angeles said more winds are also expected in Southern California.
"After a brief period of light winds today, expect another round of Santa Ana winds expected Sunday morning through Tuesday," it tweeted. "Peak winds each morning through early afternoon hours. Here is a graphic for Sunday's expected gusts. Thanks to all the firefighters!"
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Utility company will cooperate with investigation
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company said it will cooperate with any investigations stemming from the massive wildfire in Northern California. The company told state regulators Thursday that it experienced a problem on an electrical transmission line near the site of the blaze minutes before the fire broke out.
The company said it later observed damage to a transmission tower on the line. Lynsey Paulo, a company spokesperson, said the information was preliminary and stressed the cause of the fire has not been determined.
To all of the people who actively support the asshole that tweets in the night to victim shame the firefighters and those who lost everything... fuck you. He couldn't lead a horse to water. Only amoral ignorami could follow the shameful idiot. https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=144800324
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