Death toll mounting as California homes burn
TWENTY-five people were confirmed dead with 100 more missing after three major fires, including California’s most destructive ever, engulfed thousands of homes and businesses.
Three separate blazes across the state have forced about 300,000 people to flee their homes.
A blaze in Northern California, dubbed the Camp Fire, has destroyed more than 6,700 homes and businesses and swept over 109,000 acres.
Rescue authorities confirmed the death toll from all fires was 25, while more than 110 were last night unaccounted for, leading to fears the list of victims could rise drastically.
Flames descended on the town of Paradise, north of San Francisco, so quickly many people were forced to abandon vehicles and run for their lives down the only road through the mountain town. Most of the dead are believed to be from the town.
Butte County Sheriff and Coroner Kory Honea said: “I know that members of the community who are missing loved ones are anxious, and I know that the news of us recovering bodies has to be disconcerting.”
Extreme
A second blaze, Woolsey Fire, covering 83,275 acres in the south of the state near Los Angeles, has doubled in size since Friday night, killing two people. It triggered evacuation orders for 250,000 people in the beach city as well as other communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said: “Our firefighters have been facing some extreme, tough, fire conditions that they said they’ve never seen in their lives.”
Describing the fire near his Malibu home, Craig Clunies-Ross said: “It was a 100 foot wall of flames. It was like a firestorm, it was roaring.”
Firefighters were yesterday braced for “devil winds” of more than 40 mph which will fan flames.
Many cinema, TV and music stars own luxury homes in Malibu.
Actor Gerard Butler was among those forced to flee his home and One Direction singer Liam Payne said: “I’m about to lose my house and its memories. Even worse, tragically, people have died.”