At least 44 people have died since three wildfires broke out in California, with the Camp Fire taking dozens of lives in Northern California — making it the deadliest blaze in the state’s history, reports say.
As of Sunday night, 228 people remained missing, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said, according to theAssociated Press. With that, friends and relatives accompanied authorities to search for their loved ones in the rubble of Paradise, the AP reported.
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“I want to recover as many remains as we possibly can, as soon as we can,” Honea said on Monday, according to theAP. “Because I know the toll it takes on loved ones.”
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Thousands have been ordered to evacuate since the massive blazes broke our last week, leaving many fleeing for their lives from the fast-moving flames. The Camp Fire has caused the most damage — and the most deaths — as its left medical staff to evacuate patients from hospitals, and families to leave everything behind for the sake of their lives.
One Paradise resident Nicole Jolly, toldCNNthat she didn’t think she would make it as flames surrounded her car. She called her husband before running for her life, she recalled his words: “If you’re going to die, die fighting.”
Soon, Jolly found a fire engine and stayed with the group of firefighters until a bulldozer arrived and led them to safety.
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Another woman, 65-year-old Anita Waters, told theTimesthat she was trapped near her mobile-home park in Paradise before being able to drive out of the area. She drove through the ruins and around abandoned cars.
“There were some people that were stuck and the car was on fire and they were in the car,” she told the publication.
As thousands suffered, Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal payments from the state, blaming “gross mismanagement of the forests” for the deadly wildfires.
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However, the president changed his tune on Monday,announcing in a tweet that he has“approved an expedited request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California.”
“Wanted to respond quickly in order to alleviate some of the incredible suffering going on,” he wrote. “I am with you all the way. God Bless all of the victims and families affected.”
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California State University, Sacramento officials said that the campus would be closed on Tuesday “due to poor air quality as a result of smokefrom the Camp Fire.”
Numerous celebritieshave also lost their homes, including Miley Cyrus, Neil Young,Gerard Butler,Camille GrammerandRobin Thicke.
Although thousands of firefighters are working to contain the blazes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that “strong offshore” winds and low humidity “will promote conditions highly favorable” for acontinued spreadof the fires.
To help victims of the California wildfires, visit theLos Angeles Fire Department Foundation, theCalifornia Fire Foundationand theAmerican Red Cross, for more information.
source: people.com
