Death toll jumps to 29 in California wildfires

‘Like Dante’s Inferno,’ says one survivor

PARADISE, Calif. – Firefighters struggled amid heavy winds and parched conditions Sunday against blazes that have killed at least 29 people, destroyed thousands of homes and forced 250,000 to flee.

Thousands of firefighters fought to protect homes and lives while President Donald Trump pressed his case that proper forest management can alter the pattern of historic wildfires.

Gov. Jerry Brown asked the White House to issue a major disaster declaration “to bolster the ongoing emergency response and help residents recover from devastating fires burning in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.”

“As Californians, we are strong and resilient, and together we will recover,” Brown tweeted.

In Northern California, Cal Fire said Sunday that the fire in Butte County had expanded to 170 square miles and was 25 percent contained. The agency confirmed that at least 29 people have died in the inferno.

Spokesman Bill Murphy warned that gusty winds could spark “explosive fire behavior” in the area.

The fire has razed more than 6,400 homes, making it the most destructive in state history.

“The fire conditions were moderate to extreme due to the wind,” Cal Fire said in a statement. “Crews continued to protect structures and fight fire aggressively.”

The fire already has laid waste the town of Paradise, a community of 27,000 people 90 miles north of Sacramento. The fire burned so hot it peeled the paint off firetrucks, melted tires and blew out windows.

The fire roared out as quickly as it roared in. Rescuers picking through the smoking ruins found some victims in their cars, others in their burned-out homes. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea warned the death toll could rise.

“It’s surreal,” said Deputy Brian Evans, 42, whose house burned down. “The fire was moving very, very, very, very, very rapidly.”

Starting next year, a statewide emergency-alert system will allow counties to enroll residents automatically in emergency notification systems using the phone numbers attached to their utility accounts. In Paradise, many residents said they had no idea what was going on until the fire roared into town.

“It just looked like Dante’s Inferno,” said evacuee John Yates, 65. “Black and red was all you could see.”

In Southern California, another fire has killed at least two people and burned at least 177 residences, businesses and other structures while threatening more than 50,000 homes.