56 Dead In Camp Fire In Butte County, Toll Expected To Rise

BUTTE COUNTY, CA – The death toll has once again climbed in the Camp Fire in Northern California, the deadliest wildfire in state history.

Officials said they discovered the remains of eight more people on Wednesday, Nov. 14, bringing the death toll to 56. The victims were all found in the town of Paradise in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Butte County. Six were found inside structures and two were found outside of structures.

Of the 56 victims, authorities have tentatively identified 47, Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said. Officials were waiting on DNA confirmation.

The Camp Fire is also the most destructive fire in state history, with more than 10,000 structures destroyed, most of them homes.

The fire has scorched 138,000 acres and destroyed 8,650 single-family homes, 106 multi-family homes, 260 businesses and 1,301 minor structures. Another 15,500 structures remain threatened, according to Cal Fire. (Click here to see the Camp Fire Structure Status map.)

The blaze broke out around 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, off Camp Creek and Pulga roads near Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon, according to Cal Fire. By that evening, the fire had exploded to 20,000 acres. Overnight, the flames grew out-of-control to 70,000 acres and have continued to spread daily.

The fire was considered 35 percent contained as of Wednesday evening.

Thousands of firefighters from across California and other states have helped attack the flames from the ground and by air. A total of 5,615 firefighters were assigned to battle the blaze Tuesday, including 630 engines, 105 dozers, 99 hand crews, 74 water tenders and 23 helicopters, according to Cal Fire.

Three firefighters have suffered injuries in the fire.

Roughly 52,000 people have been evacuated, with 1,385 in shelters, officials said. Evacuations remain in place for residents in Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Butte Creek Canyon and Butte Valley. (See the full list of evacuation orders and warnings below. Click here for an online, interactive map of the evacuation zone.)

Authorities have arrested six people suspected of looting in Camp Fire evacuation zones.

Also see: 6 Alleged Camp Fire Looters Arrested In Butte County

Honea said 130 people remain unaccounted for in and around the small town of Paradise, which is east of the city of Chico and popular with retirees. (Click here to see the Camp Fire Missing Persons List.)

The sheriff's office has established a Missing Persons Call Center so people can report loved ones who are missing. Call 530-538-6570, 530-538-7544 or 530-538-7671.

Residents and business owners impacted by the fire can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). (Click here to see the Camp Fire Structure Status map.)

The cause of the Camp Fire remained under investigation. The blaze is expected to be fully contained by Friday, Nov. 30, Cal Fire officials said.

*Updated as of Wednesday, Nov. 14:

Evacuation Orders

Evacuation orders have been established for Paradise, Magalia, Concow, Butte Creek Canyon and Butte Valley:

• Powellton Zone
• Lovelock Zone
• Humbug Zone
• Stirling Zone
• North Coutelenc Zone
• North Fir Haven Zone
• Nimshew Zone
• Carnegie/Colter Zone
• South Fir Haven Zone
• South Coutelenc Zone
• North Pines Zone
• South Pines Zone
• Old Magalia Zone
• Lower Pentz Zone
• Morgan Ridge Zone
• Lower Clark Zone
• Butte Creek Road
• Centerville Road
• Concow
• Pulga
• Yankee Hill
• Morgan Ridge
• Skyway from lower Paradise to the Chico city limits
• Highway 32 at Nopel south all the way to Chico city limits
• Highway 70 from Pulga to West Branch Feather River Bridge
• All of Clark Road and all of Pentz Road, south to Highway 70, everything west to Highway 99 and south to Highway 149, including all of Butte Valley
• Shippee Road from Highway 149 to Highway 99
• Cherokee Road to Highway 70 to Lake Oroville south to Table Mountain Boulevard
• Eastbound Highway 162/Oro Quincy Highway at Forbestown Road east to Mountain House Road/4 Mile Ridge Road, including the communities of Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Mountain House and Bloomer Hill

Click here for an online, interactive map of the evacuation zone.

Evacuation Warnings

• Highway 32 at Nopel Avenue, east on Highway 32 to the Plumas County line

Evacuation Shelters

Evacuation shelters have been opened at the following locations:

• Bidwell Junior High School at 2376 North Ave. in Chico (OPEN)
• Butte County Fairgrounds at 199 E. Hazel St. in Gridley (OPEN)
• Plumas County Fairgrounds at 204 Fairground Road in Quincy (OPEN)
• Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds at 442 Franklin Ave. in Yuba City (OPEN)
• Glenn County Fairgrounds at 221 E. Yolo St. in Orland (FULL)
• Neighborhood Church of Chico at 2801 Notre Dame Blvd. in Chico (FULL)
• Oroville Church of the Nazarene at 2238 Monte Vista Ave. in Oroville (FULL)
• Chico Elks Lodge at 1705 Manzanita Ave. in Chico (CLOSED)

Animal Shelters

Evacuated residents should take their animals with them. Bring food, water, bedding and any containment devices necessary. If evacuees are unable to take large animals, they should be left in open pastures with food, county officials said. Animals should not be locked up in a barn. ‬‬‬‬

Residents can contact North Valley Animal Disaster Group at 530-895-0000 to report lost pets.

Small animals can be taken to:

• Chico Municipal Airport at 150 Airpark Blvd. in Chico (OPEN)
• Old Oroville Hospital at 2279 Del Oro Road, Suite E, in Oroville (FULL)

Large animals can be taken to:

• Butte County Fairgrounds at 199 E. Hazel St. in Gridley (OPEN)

Closures

All Butte County public schools have been closed through Friday, Nov. 23, officials said.

Classes at Chico State were canceled until Monday, Nov. 26.

Road Closures

Roads have been closed at the following locations:

• SR-70 at Pentz Road
• SR-70 at Wheelock was closed
• SR-70 at SR-191 was closed
• Durham Pentz Road eastbound from SR-99 northbound and southbound
• Neal Road eastbound from SR-99
• Eastbound Skyway at Honey Run
• SR-70 eastbound from SR-149 southbound
• SR-70 northbound to SR-70 eastbound
• SR-70 at Cherokee Road
• SR-32 eastbound at Yosemite
• Cherokee Road southbound at Water Service Dirt Road
• Skyway at Humboldt Road
• Skyway at De Sabla Lane
• Humboldt Road at Bruce Road
• Oro Quincy Highway (SR-162) eastbound at Forbestown Road
• Oro Quincy Highway (SR-162) at Upper Bald Rock Road
• Oro Quincy Highway (SR-162) at Stephens Ridge Road
• SR-32 at Headwaters Road
• SR-32 at Garland Road
• SR-32 at Schott Road
• SR-70 at Deadwood Road
• East 20th at Dawncrest Drive
• Picholine Way at Sevillano Court

How To Help

The Butte County Office of Education has established the Schools Fire Relief Fund to help schools impacted by the Camp Fire.

The North Valley Community Foundation has established the Northern California Fire Relief Fund to help community organizations serving those affected by the fire.

Donated items can be dropped off at 2850 Feather River Blvd. in Oroville. This location has asked for new clothes only.

Supplies

Clothing, pet goods and other supplies were available at the Oroville Municipal Auditorium at 1200 Myers St. in Oroville. Items can be picked up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Volunteering

An emergency volunteer center was opened at Caring Choices at 1398 Ridgewood Drive in Chico. People interested in volunteering can call 530-899-3873 or download a volunteer application at www.caring-choices.org.

The Salvation Army opened a distribution center at 1100 Marauder St. in Chico. The warehouse will serve as a site to collect in-kind donations and to distribute items to people impacted by the fire.

The Salvation Army is not accepting used goods. The following new in-kind items will be accepted:

• Underwear/socks
• Blankets/pillows
• Hygiene items
• Cleaning supplies
• Diaper/baby wipes
• Non-perishable foods
• Frozen turkeys
• New toys for Christmas

Monetary gifts, gas cards and local vendor gift cards can also be dropped off at the distribution center.

The center is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For large donations, call 530-776-1009 for an assigned drop-off time.

Previous Coverage:

• Camp Fire: Deadliest, Most Destructive Wildfire In CA History
• 42 Dead In Camp Fire: The Deadliest Wildfire In CA History
• Camp Fire: Death Toll Climbs To 29, Erratic Winds To Continue
• Camp Fire: 23 Dead, No Imminent Threat To Oroville
• Camp Fire: 9 Dead, 6,700 Structures Destroyed In Butte County
• Camp Fire Rages In Butte County, Prompts Evacuations

Also See:

• Camp Fire: List Of Properties Destroyed In Paradise Released
• Camp Fire Survivor Says 'Paradise May Just Be Memory'
• 'It's Something' Says Camp Fire Victim After Finding Wedding Ring
• Officers Lose Homes In Camp Fire While Helping Evacuees
• Fund Started To Help Firefighter Who Lost Home In Camp Fire
• How To Help Victims Of California Wildfires
• Facebook To Match $500,000 In Donations For Wildfire Relief

Photo: Leveled residences line a block following the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)