The death toll from the wildfires spreading in California increased to 31 and hundreds of people are still missing.
Twenty-nine of the fatalities were due to the Camp Fire in Northern California and two were due to the Woolsey Fire in Southern California. The joint wildfires are now the deadliest and most destructive in the history of the state.
Northern California Camp Fire Update
Yesterday, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that six additional individuals were confirmed dead due to the Camp Fire, which wiped out the town of Paradise and burnt surrounding communities. The number of fatalities due to the wildfire in the county reached 29.
During a press conference on Sunday, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the latest victims were found in Paradise. Firefighters discovered five people in their burnt down homes and one person inside a vehicle.
Additionally, Sheriff Honea said at least 228 people are still missing. Authorities requested the help of forensic anthropologists and a DNA laboratory to help identify victims. In some cases, what were left for them to identify were just bone fragments—the dead were burned so bad.
