Heavy rain falls on areas charred by the Camp Fire
A series of storms set to bring some relief to firefighters in Northern California has thousands of people afraid that flash flooding and mudslides could crush what’s left of the towns charred by the devastating Camp Fire.
Almost 1 million people are under a flash flood watch in that part of California, where 4 to 6 inches of rain are expected to fall through Friday. Rain began in Paradise about 11 a.m. Wednesday, dropping nearly a half inch within a few hours.
Nearly two weeks after the Golden State’s deadliest and most destructive fire began, the potential downpours could put an end to the fire season or at least ease the fire risk while also bringing new dangers.
“Rapidly rising water could flood roads, hampering search efforts and putting displaced residents camping outdoors in peril,” CNN meteorologist Gene Norman said.
With the heavy rain on the way, search teams were racing to find human remains, evacuees debated fleeing again and firefighters rushed to remove downed trees and unneeded equipment.
The Camp Fire has already killed 81 people and destroyed more than 13,500 homes. And with hundreds of residents still unaccounted for, authorities fear the death toll could rise. Three people died in the Woolsey Fire in Southern California, bringing the statewide toll in fires to 84.
The first bout of heavy rain was expected to hit Butte County, where authorities are scrambling to find 870 people who are unaccounted for since the Camp Fire. The heaviest amounts will come Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon, with between 2½ and 4 inches expected.
When the rain comes, “It’s going to consolidate the material and make it more dense. And it’s going to present much more like soil. So anything we find or hope to find that’s still there, it’s going to make a difficult task ... that much more difficult,” said Brian Ferreira, rescue squad officer for California Task Force 4.
In Paradise, a town virtually wiped out by the Camp Fire, the storms will bring about an inch of rain Wednesday and could cause ash flows, or a slurry of ash swept away by rainwater.
Mr. Ferreira said it’s possible some remains could be washed away. If that happens, “it’s out of our hands at that point.”
Butte County is keeping a list of the people who are unaccounted for after the fire. Sheriff and Coroner Kory Honea urged those who see their own names on the list or the names of loved ones found safe to contact the sheriff’s office.
The Camp Fire has charred more than 153,000 acres and was 80 percent contained Wednesday morning.