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California numerous infernos raging throughout the state as of Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. The largest is the Camp Fire. It continues to wreak devastation with the newest update of 71 civilian fatalities, more than 1,000 people are unaccounted for, three injuries, over 9,844 homes, and 2,412 non-residential buildings burnt to the ground since it began on Nov. 8. Another 15,500 structures are in the fire’s strike zone.
The Camp Fire destroyed the city of Paradise, California. As of 7:08 a.m. PT on Saturday, CAL Fire reports the blaze is 51 percent contained. One hundred forty-eight thousand acres are reported scorched.
California’s Department of Transportation, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Highway Patrol, Office of Emergency Services, and Conservation Corps, as well as National Weather Service, Butte County, City of Chico, are coordinating the firefighting effort. Thus far, a total of 5,632 fire personnel, 620 fire engines, 24 helicopters, and 102 dozers have been dispatched to the Camp Fire.
On Friday, Butte County Sheriff and Coroner Kory Honea stated the actual number of missing is likely to change as people notify authorities their previously reported missing friends and family members are safe. He explained earlier in the week:
I want you to understand that there are a lot of people displaced, and we’re finding that a lot of people don’t know that we’re looking for them.
CA.gov lists the following dedicated phone lines:
- (530) 538-6570 (Missing Person Call Center )
- (530) 538-7544 (Missing Person Call Center 2 )
- (530) 538-7671 (Missing Person Call Center 3 )
- (530) 895-0000 (Finding Pets and Pet Rescue )
Upon searching Facebook for Camp Fire Paradise CA, users will find numerous pages where people can turn to find or post updates. Even though there is more than one page for Missing Persons, users will not find an “I’m safe” page, which is typical during disasters.
California Governor Jerry Brown, Governor-elect Gavin Newsom plan to accompany President Donald Trump who plans to visit the region on Saturday.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
CNN: Number of missing grows to more than 1,000 in California’s Camp Fire
CAL Fire: Incident Report; Camp Fire
Images Courtesy of Pacific Southwest Region 5′ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License