Fiery fury
17 now dead, 180 missing in Calif.
THE DEATH toll from Northern California’s wildfires climbed to 17 Tuesday as wind-driven flames continued to tear through the region’s wine country.
More than 180 people have been reported missing in Sonoma County, one of several hard-hit regions of the state and where at least 11 people were killed.
Seventeen wildfires have started over the last 36 hours across the state, charring more than 115,000 acres, the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said Tuesday. California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in eight counties.
St. Joseph Health system has treated 170 patients at three hospitals for burns and smoke inhalation, according to ABC News.
Windy conditions that fed the fire Sunday night into Monday have died down, the Cal Fire said, but local winds and dry conditions continue to pose a challenge.
Among those killed were 100-year-old World War II veteran Charles Rippey and his wife, Sara, 98.
The couple was unable to make it out of their Napa County home on the Silverado Golf Course.
“The caregiver called and said there’s fire everywhere,” one of their sons, Chuck, told NBC affiliate KNTV. “I said get these guys out on the street, and before she knew it, the roof was caving in very fast.”
President Trump, during a White House appearance, expressed concern for the wildfire victims.
“The federal government will stand with the people of California, and we will be there for you in this time of terrible tragedy and need,” Trump said. “And I just want to pay my warmest respects. They’re going through a lot.”
Vice President Pence, visiting the state on a multiday trip, received a briefing on the devastation.
“Our hearts and the hearts of every American go out to the families,” he said. “Cal Fire is inspiring the nation. And we stand with them with great admiration and appreciation.”
The fires have scorched 1,500 buildings — including homes, vineyards and schools — throughout the region, officials said.
As of early Tuesday, 94,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers, mostly in Sonoma County, remained without power, NBC News reported.
October is traditionally one of the worst months for wildfires, especially because of the strong winds, Cal Fire said.
“Hopefully we’ll start seeing a turnaround into the course of today and tomorrow,” Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean told NBC News’ “Today.”
About half the classrooms, the library and offices at a Santa Rosa high school were damaged by the fire, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
And the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa was decimated by the raging fires, according to reports.
Kim Hoe, a 33-year-old tourist visiting from Malaysia, said he was told to leave the 250-room hotel at 1 a.m. local time.
“We just had to run and run,” Hoe said. “It was full of smoke. We could barely breathe.”