Huge California forest fire becomes year’s deadliest after 10 perish in flames
- The blaze is among 29 major forest fires burning from the Oregon border to just north of Mexico. More than 12,500 square kilometres have burned so far
A forest fire in California that destroyed a foothill hamlet has become the US state’s deadliest blaze of the year with 10 people confirmed dead – and the toll could climb as searchers look for 16 missing people.
The North Complex fire that exploded in wind-driven flames earlier in the week was advancing more slowly on Friday after the winds eased and smoke from the blaze shaded the area and lowered the temperature, allowing firefighters to make progress, authorities said.
However, the smoke made for poor visibility and fire helicopters could not fly on Thursday.
In most parts of the state, red flag warnings of extreme fire danger because of hot, dry weather or gusty winds were lifted.
Only a day or two earlier, the North Complex fire tore through Sierra Nevada foothills so quickly that fire crews were nearly engulfed, locals fled for their lives to a pond, and the town of Berry Creek, population 525, was gutted.