Officials fighting wildfires in Northern California, which has so far become the state’s deadliest country, fear the death toll could rise further Friday, as at least 16 people are missing.
At least 15 people have been killed in California, Reagan and Washington, D.C., as wildfires continue to rage in all three states.
The fire in the North Complex this morning burned more than 244,000 acres near Auroville and contained only 23%, according to Calfire. But officials say it is now moving at a much slower pace on Friday because the wind has eased and the area is shaded by the smoke and the temperature drops, allowing firefighters to make progress.
Hundreds of Butler and her husband are among those not included, who called their son to say they would try to escape the flames by taking refuge in the lake.
Portland M declares state of emergency as 100,000 Fly Wildfires Across Oregon
“We still hope and pray for the good news,” Jessica Fallon, who has two children with Butlers’ grandson, told the Associated Press. “Everything is changeable, but not the life of my grandparents. I’ll lose everything but those two. They kept this kind of family together. ”
Fallon said she’d been peppering hospitals with phone calls in search of her grandparents, but as late as Thursday night, there was no word to them.
A hand employee on Wednesday cleared vegetation around the barn as a bear fire – which is now part of the North Complex fire – burned Wednesday in the Boy Creek area of Boot County, California. (AP)
On Thursday, Butte County Sheriff’s Capt. Derek Bell said the death toll from the fire in the North Complex has risen to 10 and four people have been hospitalized after being badly burned.
He added that deputies and researchers with a team of anthropologists from Chico State University are searching for human remains.
Live Updates: Deadly Wildfire Rage in West Places
The blaze, which began several weeks ago as a lightning strike in northeast San Francisco, has so far burned more than 2,000 homes and other buildings. The final toll will be higher and damage assessment teams plan to begin a systematic search of the burned areas on Friday.
White House spokesman Jude Deere said President Trump has spoken with Governor Gavin News, “expressing his condolences on the loss of life and reiterating the administration’s full support for those on the front lines of the fire,” White House spokesman Jude Deere said.
Neighboring Reagan and Washington Washington have also been surrounded by wildfires.
Oregon Wildfire under Criminal Arsenal Investigation
Eden McCarthy made her dog Hina a pet in the wreckage of a house destroyed by the Alameda fire on Thursday in Talent, Ore. (AP)
More than 1,400 square miles have been burned this week in reg Reagan, where hot, windy conditions continue. More than 10% of the state’s population – more than 500,000 people – have been forced to relocate, officials said.
Oregon officials have not released an exact count of deaths for wildlife but at least four casualties have been reported in the state.
The Associated Press says officials there were shocked by the number of simultaneous fires, which had been at 37 since Thursday, according to the Emergency Management Office.
Click here to get the Fox News app
The government’s Kate Brown said more than 1,000,000 acres – more than the size of Rhode Island – had been burned in Oregon over a three-day period this week, nearly double the area burned there in a typical year.
A man has been killed in a wildfire in Washington, D.C., which has swung about 937 square miles.
The Associated Press contributes to this report.
