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Via the Chico Enterprise-Record: More remains found in Paradise area increasing death toll to 56. Excerpt:
An additional eight remains were found in the Paradise area bringing the number of deaths to 56 in the Camp Fire. Of the latest discovery, six bodies were found inside structures and two were outside, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said.
More than 400 people and 22 cadaver dogs are part of the search effort. The process to collect DNA sampling from the public will begin Thursday. Anyone who believes they have a deceased family member can go to the Sheriff’s Office to provide a DNA sample.
At last report, the fire had destroyed 7,600 single-family homes, 95 multi-family structures and 260 businesses. The burned area was 135,000 acres.
There are 5,600 people fighting the fire and they have obtained 35 percent containment.
Highway 32 was reopened westbound between Forest Ranch and Chico Wednesday afternoon, as firefighters made progress on the Camp Fire. The road is still closed eastbound from Chico though.
Conditions
Wednesday’s weather has been favorable, and the fire hasn’t grown much, according to public information officer Capt. Keith Wade from the Sacramento Fire Department.
He said the fire was active east of Paradise Lake, but was well south of Stirling City. It was also growing near Big Bar Mountain on the east side of the North Fork of the Feather River, southeast of Pulga.
The fire was also hot where the West Branch and North Fork of the Feather River diverge, near the Highway 70 bridge over Lake Oroville. The fire had jumped Monday south of the lake both toward Cherokee and Berry Creek, but Wade said the fire wasn’t growing in that area Wednesday.
The Bloomer Hill area is mostly in mop-up.
