All missing persons in North Complex accounted for
The last remaining evacuation warning in Glenn County fires lifted
CHICO » As of Friday evening, all 188 cases involving people previously reported missing in the North Complex West Zone fire have been accounted for, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at a press briefing.
Containment has grown to 45 percent, with 79,488 acres burned by the lightning-started fire, according to Cal Fire-Butte County, and one fire official called progress “rapid.”
The remains of one deceased individual were identified as Larry Holder, 61, of Berry Creek, Honea said Friday.
A family member of Holder’s called the Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 9 requesting a welfare check. Deputies and other law enforcement responded to Holder’s address on Bay Ranch Road and determined his residence was a “complete loss due to the fire,” Honea said.
On Sept. 12, detectives, search and rescue personnel and anthropologists from Chico State returned to the property and found a deceased individual inside a metal shed. DNA analysis later confirmed the deceased was Holder. Detectives then spoke to Holder’s neighbors to determine the events leading up to the fire, Honea said.
“A neighbor told detectives that Mr. Holder was aware of the fire but decided not to evacuate,” Honea said. “Mr. Holder told the neighbor that he planned on ‘riding the fire out’ inside of the metal shed located on his property, which is where his remains were found. We send our condolences to Mr. Holder’s family and friends.”
In addition, with no more human remains found, the number of deceased individuals stands at 15.
Primarily from the foothill community of Berry Creek, 14 of the 15 people, including Holder, who died in the fire have been identified: Josiah Williams, 16; Millicent Catarancuic, 77; Khawar Bhatti, 58; Philip Rubel, 68; Jorge Hernandez-Juarez, 26; Sandra Butler, 75; John Butler 79, Paul Winer, 68, Mark Delagardie, 61; Kin Lee, 64, and Susan Zurz, 76, all of Berry Creek; and from the Feather Falls area, Randy Harrell, 67; and Jacob Albright, 74.
Weather
Firefighting on the deadly North Complex West Zone fire continues, but crews experienced more moderate conditions on Friday with cooler temperatures, decreased winds and higher humidity.
Incident meteorologist Dan Borsum said Friday’s humidity was the highest seen since Sept. 4, exactly two weeks ago. Borsum said the humidity is going to stay higher than it has been earlier in September.
Additionally, the Red Flag Warning in eastern Plumas County has been cancelled as winds have subsided.
“This is all good news, these are all more moderated conditions than what we saw mainly over the first part of the month,” Borsum said.
However, higher temperatures will return on the weekend.
Evacuations
Another sign of that progress Friday came in the form of evacuation orders and warnings being downgraded. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office announced that the evacuation warnings are now lifted as of Friday for the following areas:
• Highway 162 from Miners Ranch Road north to the Bidwell Bar Bridge, west to Lake Oroville
• Kelly Ridge from Lake Oroville west to Canyon Drive
• Cherokee Road west to Highway 70
• Oroville Bangor Highway, south of Swedes Flat Road, east to the Butte County line
For a list of complete evacuation orders and warnings, visit www.buttecounty.net/sheriffcoroner.
The Butte County Sheriff call center for evacuation information is still open at 552-3010.
Local Assistance Center
During an information session held Friday morning at the Municipal Auditorium in Oroville, Shelby Boston, the Butte County director of employment and social services said a local assistance center will be opening next week.
The center will be located at the Oroville Gymnastics Academy, 1875 Feather River Blvd. and open on Tuesday. It will remain open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for at least three weeks, Boston said.
The center will provide those affected by the North Complex West Zone fires with assistance on how to replace important documents like drivers licenses, social security cards, deeds to homes and tax documents. Boston also said sifting kits will be available so when residents are permitted back to their property they can search through the rubble.
Update on structures impacted, acres burned
The total number of structures destroyed by the North Complex West Zone is 1,147 with 74 damaged.
The entire North Complex is 54 percent contained, having burned 287,354 acres.
According to the U.S. Forest Service on Friday morning regarding the West Zone, “Several structure protection groups are in place surrounding the most active areas of the fire perimeter to protect nearby communities. Strategic firing operations and aircraft support will take place as weather conditions allow.”
August Complex update
The last remaining evacuation warning in Glenn County due to the August Complex fires has been lifted as of Friday morning, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office announced in a release.
The evacuation order for the Mendocino National Forest (forest boundary line in Glenn County west to Mendocino County) has been lifted. County Road 200 from County Road 306 to the Tehama County line is also now open with no restrictions.
Residents and property owners are allowed to return to their properties, however, they are advised to carry proof of property ownership or other documentation when requested upon entering the forest area.
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office said those returning to areas within the burn scar should use “extreme caution” as hazards may still be present.
“Debris has been removed from the roadway, however, use caution on the roadways as conditions may continually change,” the release stated.
A Forest Closure Order remains in effect from the U.S. Forest Service. Properties accessed via a Forest System road may require a permit from the U.S. Forest Service. Contact the Mendocino National Forest at 934-3316 for more information.