‘IT LOOKED LIKE DANTE’S INFERNO’
Fire lays waste to California community; death toll could rise
PARADISE, Calif. – Firefighters battled heavy winds and parched conditions Sunday in their herculean struggle against blazes that have killed at least 25 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 contentious 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 the devastation.
“To those who have lost friends and family members, homes and businesses, know that the entire state is with you,” Brown said. “As Californians, we are strong and resilient, and together we will recover.”
In Northern California, the statewide fire protection agency Cal Fire said the Camp Fire in Butte County had expanded Sunday to 170 square miles and was 25 percent contained. The agency confirmed that at least 23 people have died in the inferno, the third most deadly fire in state history behind a 1933 blaze that killed 29 and a 1991 fire that killed 25.
A mobile DNA lab was set up to aid the heartbreaking task of identifying victims. The Camp Fire also razed more than 6,400 homes, which makes it it the most destructive in state history.
Cal Fire spokesman Bill Murphy warned that gusty winds could spark “explosive fire behavior.”
“The fire conditions were moderate to extreme due to the wind,” Murphy said. “Crews continued to protect structures and fight fire aggressively.”
The fire has laid waste to the town of Paradise, a community of 30,000 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 burnedout homes. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea warned that 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 automatically enroll residents in 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, the Woolsey Fire had killed at least two people and burned at least 177 residences, businesses and other structures while threatening more than 50,000 homes. Gusty Santa Ana winds were forecast through Tuesday.
Much of glitzy, picturesque Malibu was evacuated, and Hollywood stars were not spared the fire’s ferocity. Shannen Doherty and Robin Thicke were among residents whose homes were destroyed.
“Thank you to the firefighters, police, first and emergency responders for doing above and beyond everything you can do to help us,” Lady Gaga tweeted. “You are true heroes.”
More than 250,000 have been chased from their homes by the Woolsey and Hill fires. The Woolsey Fire had burned 130 square miles and was 10 percent contained Sunday. The Hill Fire had burned 7 square miles and was 70 percent contained.
More than 8,000 firefighters were battling the blazes, and Trump gave them a nod late Saturday.
“Our hearts are with those fighting the fires, the 52,000 who have evacuated, and the families of the 11 who have died,” he tweeted. “The destruction is catastrophic. God Bless them all.”
Trump also urged residents to follow evacuation orders. Earlier, however, the president drew the ire of multiple pro- fessional firefighters associations when he tweeted that “gross mismanagement of the forests” is to blame for devastating fires. He threatened to withhold “billions of dollars” in federal money.
Garold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said the comments were “reckless and insulting.” California Professional Firefighters President Brian Rice called the president’s words “ill-informed, illtimed and demeaning.”
“Nearly 60 percent of California forests are under federal management, and another two-thirds under private control,” Rice said. “It is the federal government that has chosen to divert resources away from forest management, not California.”
Trump appeared unmoved by the challenges. On Sunday he tweeted that “At least With proper Forest Management, we can stop the devastation constantly going on in California. Get Smart!”
Bacon reported from McLean, Va. Contributing: Cydney Henderson, Joel Shannon and Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY; The Associated Press