Numerous wildfires have been burning for over a week in Northern California, and a new report shows that the Camp Fire alone has a death toll of 71, while 1,011 people are unaccounted for.
According to Butte Country Sheriff Kory Honea, authorities are still trying to recover and identify bodies. He added that in the meantime, the list of missing people may fluctuate as families confirm if they’ve heard from their relatives, and deputies, National Guard troops, anthropologists, and corners continue sifting through the wreckage.
“I want you to understand that there are a lot of people displaced, and we’re finding that a lot of people don’t know that we’re looking for them,” Honea said.
The list of people reported missing can be found on the Butte County Sheriff’s Office website.
Officials have been using dental records and fingerprints to identify #campfire victims, but they’re now going to utilize this rapid DNA machine and are asking parents and children of missing people to go to the Chico Sears and submit a mouth swab pic.twitter.com/UOR5HCNQCm
— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) November 17, 2018
The Camp Fire — which is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history, according to CNN — is 50 percent contained, and has burned more than 146,000 acres, which includes about 9,800 homes.
The Woolsey Fire, burning outside of Los Angeles, is much closer to being contained at 78 percent. Three deaths were reported after more than 98,000 acres were burned.
According to CBS News, the dense smoke from the fires has produced what’s been described as “the dirtiest air in the world.”
President Trump is expected to visit Northern California on Saturday to witness the devastation and assess the impact. He’ll be joined by California’s outgoing and incoming governors, Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom.
When the fires first began, Trump seemingly blamed California’s forest management, even threatening to withhold federal payments. He reiterated his disappointment with “management” in a Fox News interview set to air Sunday night.
“You need management,” Trump said, adding, “I’m not saying that in a negative way, a positive I’m just saying the facts.”