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'Only bones and fragments': California wildfire toll at 25 as grim searches go on 'Only bones and fragments': California wildfire toll at 25 as grim searches go on
(about 4 hours later)
In northern California, sheriff’s investigators have begun the agonizing task of scouring the wreckage of the most destructive fire in state records, in search of remains of the dead. By Saturday, the death toll in and around the destroyed town of Paradise had reached 23, but it seemed likely to climb. In northern California on Sunday, sheriff’s investigators scoured wreckage left by the most destructive fire in state records, in search of remains of the dead. The death toll in and around the destroyed town of Paradise had reached 23 and seemed likely to climb.
Two more people were confirmed to have died in the south of the state, around Los Angeles in the Woolsey fire, which has ravaged vast areas. It was only 5% contained on Saturday night and a red flag warning was put into effect for Sunday morning through Tuesday, as officials expected dry winds to worsen considerably. The toll for the state as a whole was 25, after two people were confirmed to have died around Los Angeles. Taking advantage of the break in dry winds on Saturday, fire crews battling that fast-moving blaze, the 83,275-acre Woolsey fire, were able to achieve 10% containment, officials reported. A red flag warning was in effect through Tuesday, though, as officials expected dry winds to worsen considerably.
A total of 83,275 acres had burned, but officials still had no updates on the number of structures destroyed. In the north, near Paradise, Butte county sheriff Kory Honea said the county was bringing in a fifth search and recovery team and an anthropology team from California State University, Chico was also assisting, as in some cases “the only remains we are able to find are bones or bone fragments”.Honea said the agency was bringing in a mobile DNA lab.
In the north, with the fire still raging around Paradise, Butte county sheriff Kory Honea said the county was bringing in a fifth search and recovery team. An anthropology team from California State University, Chico was assisting, because in some cases “the only remains we are able to find are bones or bone fragments”. Victims had not been identified, but 110 people were believed missing. Officials hoped many older people on the list were alive, without a way to contact loved ones.
“This weighs heavy on all of us,” Honea said. “Myself and especially those staff members who are out there doing what is important work but certainly difficult work.” After a night of high winds, the fire around Paradise grew from 105,000 acres to 109,000 and was 25% contained. More than 4,000 personnel were on scene from across the state; more than 50,000 people had evacuated.
The victims had not been identified, but the department had a roster of 110 people believed missing. Officials hoped many of the elderly on the list were elsewhere without a way to contact loved ones. Honea said the agency was bringing in a mobile DNA lab and encouraged people with missing relatives to submit samples to aid in the identification process. Amid a mass exodus from small rural communities to safer towns in the Sacramento Valley, anxious family members and friends journeyed from across the state and further to find loved ones not heard from since the fire began on Thursday. Honea said families should make every effort to find loved ones on their own before filing a missing person’s report, including searching shelters.
The death toll made the fire the third-deadliest on record in the state, another statistic for a blaze now logged at 164 sq miles that has cost at least $8.1m to fight so far, said Steve Kaufmann, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The family of Barbara Carlson, 71, had not heard from her since Thursday morning, when she told them she did not plan to leave the home she shares with her sister Shirley Haley on Heavenly Place. Her son Mike and granddaughter Annika drove more than two hours to shelters in Oroville, Gridley, Live Oak and Chico, looking for the small, woman with gray hair and freckles and a dog called Strawberry.
Entire neighborhoods were leveled, destroying more than 6,700 buildings, almost all of them homes. The Paradise business district was destroyed by a blaze that threatened to explode again with the fury that largely incinerated the foothill town. “We are praying she’s with her neighbors,” Annika said.
More firefighters were headed to the area, with wind gusts of up to 50mph expected through Monday, raising the risk of conditions similar to those when the fire started on Thursday, the National Weather Service said. In southern California, fire tore through stars’ mansions and working-class homes. Extreme fire behavior, driven by winds, low humidity and a profusion of water-starved vegetation, made the fire difficult to stop. Crews traversed steep terrain as efforts focused on saving lives and homes.
In southern California, fires tore through Malibu mansions and working-class suburban homes. State officials put the number of people forced from their homes statewide at more than 200,000. Evacuations included the city of Malibu, home to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. “This has been a challenging and emotional incident,” Los Angeles county fire chief Daryl Osby said in a press conference on Saturday evening. Describing an “extreme situation” across 20 miles of land, he said members of the department were struggling over the loss of their own homes.
Back in Paradise, the air clogged with smoke, residents who defied an evacuation order for all of Paradise, a town of 27,000 founded in the 1800s, donned masks as they surveyed ravaged neighborhoods. Some cried when they saw nothing was left. “We are trying to provide support for them as we are support for our citizens in this region,” he said.
Jan MacGregor, 81, got back to his small two-bedroom home with the help of his firefighter grandson. He found it leveled, a large metal safe and pipe work from his septic system the only recognizable traces. The safe was punctured with bullet holes from guns that went off in the scorching heat. State senator Henry Stern, who grew up in the Malibu area, said: “I don’t think it is possible to quantify the tragedy and dismay we all feel for the families who have lost their homes. Fires don’t respect politics or jurisdictions. That is why I am so grateful to all the jurisdictions who are here today. Between counties, cities, states government and our federal resources all cooperating. It is an incredible show of force and cooperation. We are so tremendously grateful.”
He has lived in Paradise for nearly 80 years, moving there in 1939 when he said the town had just 3,000 people and was nicknamed Poverty Ridge. The fire was not a complete surprise, he said. Stern implored Donald Trump to ensure the state received the federal support it needs. The president caused dismay with a Saturday tweet in which he claimed there was “no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor”, and threatened to withhold federal funds.
“We knew Paradise was a prime target for forest fire over the years,” he said. “We’ve had ‘em come right up to the city limits, oh yeah, but nothing like this.” “There are many parties, many views out here,” Stern said. “This is not about politics – it is about people.”
MacGregor said he probably would not rebuild: “I have nothing here to go back to.” Trump also tweeted messages of support for those affected by the fires.
Homes and other buildings were still burning and fire crews were trying to extinguish those blazes, said Scott McLean, a captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Back in Paradise, a town of 27,000 founded in the 1800s, residents donned masks as they surveyed ravaged neighborhoods. Some cried when they saw nothing was left.
Drought, warmer weather attributed to climate change and home construction deeper into forests have led to more destructive wildfire seasons that have been starting earlier and lasting longer. Robert Edwards had driven all night from Seattle to find his mother, Barbara Allen, who he had not heard from since Thursday. He and family members searched every shelter in town, including the Walmart parking lot, which had become an unofficial evacuation shelter crowded with fire refugees.
California emerged from a five-year drought last year but has had a very dry 2018. Much of the northern two-thirds of the state, including where the fire is burning, is abnormally dry, according to a US government analysis. During a Saturday evening community meeting attended by hundreds of residents and evacuees, Edwards told the crowd he was looking for his mother.
“I just want her to call,” he said.
Someone from the crowd shouted: “I’ve seen her today!”
The room broke out in applause.
Edwards and his family, still holding missing persons posters with the blonde 77-year-old’s smiling face, returned to the store and began searching the parking lot. It was still crowded, with trailers and small barbecues hosted by local citizens and organizations to feed evacuees.
The Guardian was with him when he got the call with his mother’s location. Edwards rushed to the trailer where Barbara was staying, which he had checked on before. He was still pulling the keys out of the ignition as he jumped from the truck.
The glow of bright street lights illuminating her face, Barbara Allen stood waiting in the doorway, her arms open. It had taken more than two days for her son to find his mother. He hugged her tight and didn’t let go.
“I didn’t have a phone,” Barbara cried. “I didn’t have anyway of getting ahold of you.”
CaliforniaCalifornia
WildfiresWildfires
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
Los AngelesLos Angeles
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