63 Dead, 631 Missing In Camp Fire In Butte County

BUTTE COUNTY, CA – The death toll has climbed as the number of missing and unaccounted for has soared in the Camp Fire in Northern California, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history.

Authorities said they discovered the remains of seven more people on Thursday, Nov. 15, bringing the death toll to 63. Three victims were found in Magalia, three were found in Paradise, and one was found in Concow in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Butte County.

Of the 63 victims, authorities have tentatively identified 53, Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said. Officials were waiting on DNA confirmation.

Honea said the number of people missing or unaccounted for has spiked to 631 after authorities vetted previous and incoming reports. He added that many of the unaccounted for may simply be displaced in shelters throughout the region and urged people to look at the list of those missing to let authorities know if they are safe. (Click here to see the Camp Fire Missing Persons List.)

The 142,000-acre Camp Fire forced 52,000 people to evacuate, with 1,385 currently 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.)

The fire has destroyed 9,700 single-family homes, 144 multi-family homes, 336 businesses and 2,076 minor structures. Another 283 structures were damaged and an additional 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 45 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Thousands of firefighters from across California and other states have helped attack the flames from the ground and by air. A total of 5,596 firefighters were assigned to battle the blaze Thursday, including 622 engines, 103 dozers, 101 hand crews, 75 water tenders and 24 helicopters, according to Cal Fire.

Three firefighters have suffered injuries in the fire.

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 Friday, Nov. 16:

Evacuation Orders

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

• Powellton Zone
• Lovelock 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 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
• Doe Mill Road south at Village Drive was closed. Santos Ranch Road, Wilder Drive and Autumn Lane remain closed.

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

Evacuation Warnings

• Little Chico Creek Area (north)
• The area north of Ten Mile House Road to Forest Ranch Road

Evacuation Shelters

Evacuation shelters that remain open:

• Bidwell Junior High School at 2376 North Ave. in Chico

Evacuation shelters that were full/no longer accepting additional evacuees:

• Butte County Fairgrounds at 199 E. Hazel St. in Gridley
• Glenn County Fairgrounds at 221 E. Yolo St. in Orland
• Neighborhood Church of Chico at 2801 Notre Dame Blvd. in Chico
• Oroville Church of the Nazarene at 2238 Monte Vista Ave. in Oroville
• Plumas County Fairgrounds at 204 Fairground Road in Quincy
• Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds at 442 Franklin Ave. in Yuba City

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.

Classes at Chico State have been canceled until Monday, Nov. 26.

Road Closures

Roads have been closed at the following locations:

• SR-70 at Pentz Road
• SR-70 at Wheelock
• SR-70 at SR-191
• Durham Pentz Road eastbound from SR-99
• Neal Road eastbound from SR-99
• Skyway at Honey Run
• Skyway east of Honey Run
• SR-149 southbound to SR-70 eastbound
• SR-70 northbound to SR-70 eastbound
• SR-70 at Cherokee Road
• SR-32 eastbound at Yosemite
• Cherokee Road at Water Service Dirt Road
• Skyway at Humboldt Road
• Skyway at Powelton
• Stilson Canyon Road at Bruce Road
• Humboldt Road at Bruce Road
• SR-162 (Oro Quincy) at Forbestown Road
• Oro Quincy Highway at Upper Bald Rock Road
• SR-162 (Oro Quincy) at Stephens Ridge Road (lower end)
• Powelton Road at Doe Mill Road
• SR-32 at Ten Mile House Road
• SR-32 at Autumn Lane
• SR-70 at Deadwood
• East 20th at Dawncrest Drive
• Picholine at Sevillano Court
• Meadow Brook Ranch Road at Skyway
• Skyway at Inskip
• SR-32 at Santos Ranch Road

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.

People can also click here to donate to the United Way of Northern California Camp Fire Fund by texting "Butte Fire" to 91999.

Brand new clothing can be dropped off at 2850 Feather River Blvd. in Oroville.

Supplies

People can pick-up supplies at the Oroville Municipal Auditorium at 1200 Myers St. in Oroville. Clothing, pet goods and small appliances are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

United Way of Northern California is accepting applications for emergency cash assistance from those who lost their homes in the Camp Fire. These will be one-time grants designed to help with urgent basic necessities such as food, gas and clothing. Amounts given will depend on need and available resources. UWNC cannot guarantee that all applicants will receive funding.

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:

• Death Toll Climbs To 63 In Camp Fire, 631 Unaccounted For
• 56 Dead In Camp Fire In Butte County, Toll Expected To Rise
• 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:

• 6 Alleged Camp Fire Looters Arrested In Butte County
• Officer-Involved Shooting Reported In Camp Fire Evacuation Zone
• Smoke From Camp Fire Continues To Blanket Northern California
• 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