California wildfires death toll rises to 31
WINDS OF FURY These are the most destructive fires in the US state’s history SANFRANCISCO:The
most destructive wildfires in California’s history have killed at least 31 people and forced tens of thousands more to evacuate, as firefighters struggled to gain control in swirling winds.
The so-called Camp Fire in Northern California and the Woolsey Fir, in suburban Los Angeles, have destroyed more than 6,700 structures and could cost the state, insurers and homeowners at least $19 billion in damages. More winds are forecast for the afflicted areas and there is no sign of the seasonal rain ahead.
It could take another five days before fire fighters put out Woolsey and the rest of the month to extinguish the Camp Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said. Meanwhile, 149,000 people remain evacuated, Mark Ghilarducci, director of California’s Office of Emergency Services., said on Sunday.
The blazes have spread to more than 196,000 acres and threaten to destroy tens of thousands of structures, according to Cal Fire. About 228 people remain unaccounted for in the vicinity of the northern blaze.
Governor Jerry Brown formally asked President Donald Trump to release new federal aid in a “major disaster declaration.’’ The request for emergency funding to support housing, crisis management and infrastructure recovery efforts came a day after Trump threatened to withhold federal payments to California.
“We’re putting everything we’ve got into the fight against these fires, and this request ensures communities on the front lines get additional federal aid,” Brown said in a written statement.
The damage north of San Francisco and near Los Angeles could be on par with the type of destruction triggered by Hurricane Michael, which left Florida in disarray earlier this year, said Chuck Watson, a disaster modeler at Enki Research.
“The California fires are as bad as folks think they are,” Watson said, pegging possible damages of about $25 billion. “Insurance for fire is already becoming an issue in California and this won’t help that industry.”
Initially, Trump had threatened to withhold money because of what he called “gross mismanagement of the forests.” His later tweets were more measured, saying that “our hearts are with those fighting the fires.” On Sunday, Trump tweeted again to encourage “proper” management to “stop the devastation constantly going on in California.”
As of November 6, all of California is abnormally dry, up from nearly 85% the week before, according to the US Drought Monitor in Lincoln, Nebraska.