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NSPR aims to bring you accurate and comprehensive fire coverage in the North State. Here you will find all of our fire updates and stories.Our staff will not be providing updates on wildfires overnight. You can stay updated on the latest information by tracking and monitoring fires on social media. To ensure you're alerted if there is an emergency in your area, sign up for emergency alerts in your county, and always have an emergency kit ready to go in case of an evacuation.

Camp Fire: The Latest On The Camp Fire

Noah Berger, Associated Press

This post is no longer being updated. Click here for the latest information about the Camp Fire.

As of 9 p.m. Saturday 10 November, here is what we know:

Recovery teams have found the remains of an additional 14 people, bringing the death toll to 23.

Dry north winds will continue to gain strength through the night, with gusts exceeding 30 miles per hour on the valley floor, especially on the west side of the valley and 50 miles per hour over wind-prone foothill and mountain ridges in both the Sierra and Mendocino ranges. Winds are expected to continue through the night tonight and until about early afternoon Monday, bringing risk of rapid spread.  

Firefighters and other resources have been positioned to respond to the fire’s leading edges.

That said, there is no imminent threat to residents of the City of Oroville, according to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea. However, evacuation orders were issued for the Brush Creek and Berry Creek areas in the foothills east of Oroville.

Active burning is being detected by satellite along Paradise Lake down to the Centerville Cemetery, the Little Chico Creek drainage several miles east of Chico, in the Butte Valley, Yankee Hill and across the North Fork of the Feather River onto Big Bend Mountain.

The estimated number of homes destroyed remains at 6,453, but is expected to climb. Our reporter, Marc Albert who spent several hours documenting conditions in Paradise, estimates that roughly 19 out of every 20 homes were destroyed in areas the fire burned through. Paradise Elementary is a total loss. Utility lines are strewn about the roads like overcooked pasta. Creosote coated power polls burnt like matches. The town appears as though it suffered relentless shelling or aerial bombardment.

Authorities are investigating 110 reports of missing people. It is believed some of the reports are duplicates.  

Fire crews from as far away as Santa Cruz, Reno, Loyalton, Livermore, Davis, and Berkeley were patrolling Paradise.  

52,000 residents have been forced to flee the inferno.

Air quality is expected to remain extremely poor for at least a week. Widespread rain is not expected before Thanksgiving weekend, and even that is not assured.

The most up to date source for reliable and credible evacuation notices is the Butte County Sheriff’s office Twitter Feed.

NSPR will continue offering fire updates through midnight at the top of, and half past each hour, and possibly longer if the fire takes any dramatic turn.

 

 

Update at 7 p.m. Saturday

Here are the main points from the just concluded 6:00 Camp Fire press conference:

110, 000 acres have burned.

 

52,000 residents are either under evacuation or sheltered.

 

6,453 residences are estimated to have been destroyed, and 260 commercial buildings.

 

The fire moved into the Big Bend area today, causing the evacuation of Berry Creek, Brush Creek and the adjoining areas.

 

Additionally, fire crews worked clean-up in Paradise, and responded to increased fire activity in the Santos Ranch area and around Magalia.

 

Air tankers were able to address exposed ridgelines, but were hampered in other areas by dense smoke cover.

 

Additional resources have been pre-positioned near areas threatened tonight which parts of the Feather River Canyon, and near Butte Creek Canyon and Berry Creek, potentially including areas immediately east of Oroville. 

 

According to Butte County Sheriff Honea, there is no IMMINENT threat to residents in the city of Oroville at this time; however, the fire is dynamic and area residents need to remain vigilant through tonight.

 

The best sources of information are Cal Fire and Butte Co. Sheriff social media pages, including Twitter, which are updated frequently.  Evacuations and road closures are announced through the Sheriff’s office.

 

There have been reports of looting – 53 so far – and the Sheriff’s Dept. is treating them seriously.

 

More than 500 missing persons call have been received since the beginning of the Camp Fire.  Of those, 110 are still pending and under investigation. 

The number of confirmed casualties is increasing now that recovery teams are able to access burned areas.  Four teams are active now, with a 5th due tomorrow.  In addition, a portable DNA lab is being set up to help with identification.

 

14 bodies were recovered today, bring the total of known deaths to 23. 

 

The fire remains dynamic and growing.  We’re at the front end, not the back, of the suppression effort.

 

The area is under a Red Flag warning will be in effect from 10 PM tonight to 7 AM Monday morning, meaning fire conditions are critical.  Winds along ridgetops and  higher elevations may be as high as 50 mph, and 35 mph in lower areas.

 

Heavy smoke cover continues to seriously degrade air quality.  People who need to be outside in high smoke areas are advised to wear N95 type masks, available in small/medium/large.  Home and car air filters should be changed or cleaned frequently.

 

 

Update at 4 p.m. Saturday

 

The Camp Fire that is burning in the Paradise area of Butte County has now covered over 100,000 acres and is 20 percent contained. Nine people have died. Officials are now saying that strong winds tonight could move the fire to Oroville.

 

Cal Fire’s Public Information Officer Kevin Tidwell:

 

“We’re still expecting extreme fire behavior and dangerous rates of spread. This wind event would be similar to the wind conditions to when the fire first started.”

 

These winds are expected to pick up after 8 tonight.

 

Tidwell says Cal Fire is starting to prepare for the weather conditions so they can try to hold their containment and that they have crews all around the perimeter of the fire working to start securing lines, increase containment and start preparing for tonight’s wind event.

 

Tidwell says right now the fire is holding to the southwest near Chico and south of Highways 99 and 149. It’s continuing to burn to the southwest toward Big Bend and Berry Creek, which is threatening the city of Oroville.

 

Tidwell asks that says those who are evacuated should heed warnings.

 

The most recent evacuations issued are for East Bound Hwy 162 or Oro Quincy Hwy at Forbestown Rd east to Mountain House Road/4 Mile Ridge Road, including the communities of Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Mountain House and Bloomer Hill.

 

Those evacuating from that area are being asked to please use westbound Hwy 162 through the City of Oroville.

 

Butte County is still under a state of emergency. The Camp Fire is now the most destructive wildfire in California’s history.

 

We’re monitoring this fire and will break in with any new critical information. We’ll also continue to bring you top and bottom of the hour updates.

 

Evacs

Butte County Sheriff Twitter page

Cal Fire Public Info Line – 530.538.7826

 

People Locators

safeandwell.org

 

People Wanting to Volunteer

 

Caring Choice, 1398 Ridgewood, Chico     530.899.3873 (Present in person or call)

Caring Choice is contracted by Butte County to coordinate crisis volunteers.  They assess needs and skills, and direct appropriately.

 

Shelters/People

 

According to our latest information, only the Yuba-Sutter Fairground, 442 Franklin Ave., Yuba City is accepting evacuees.  We’ll check to see if any additional centers are going to be opened.

 

Shelters/Animal

 

Small animal shelters are open

  • In Chico:  Chico Muni Airport, 150 Airpark Blvd.
  • In Oroville: Old County Hosp., 2279 Del Oro and Mono  

 
When evacuating, take your animals – bring water, food, bedding, meds, containment.

 

If you’re unable to evacuate livestock or large animals, leave in open pastures with food. Do NOT lock in barns.

 
Update at 12:04 p.m. Saturday

The Butte County Sheriff has upgraded the evacuation warning for the following area to an evacuation order:   

 

East Bound Hwy 162 or Oro Quincy Highway at Canyon Creek Bridge east to Mountain House Road, including the communities of Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Mountain House, and Bloomer Hill.

 

Those evacuating from that area are being asked to please use westbound Hwy 162 through the City of Oroville.
 
 

Update at 11:01 a.m. Saturday 

An evacuation warning has been issued for East Bound Hwy 162/Oro Quincy Hwy at Canyon Creek Bridge east to Mountain House Road, including the communities of Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Mountain House, and Bloomer Hill, according to the Butte County Sheriff. 

Update at 10:23 a.m. Saturday 

The Camp Fire is now 100,000 acres in size. That’s according to the latest report by Cal Fire. Fire fighters have made progress on containment and the fire is now estimated to be 20 percent contained. 

The confirmed death toll of the Camp Fire still stands at nine individuals.

The lack of high winds like those on the day the fire started helped firefighters Friday but, according to the National Weather Service, winds are expected to pick up tonight and last through Monday morning.

At a briefing earlier this morning, firefighters starting their shift were updated on today’s plan. The focus of concern was about the expected high winds overnight. While there will be firefighters working the entire fire, efforts will be focused on the Magalia area and the North to East side of the fire, which is the largest populated area.

Tonight’s winds are expected to move the fire east to west if some areas are rekindled. Cal Fire is hoping to continue to strengthen and control containment lines before the winds begin around midnight.  

Winds of up to 30 miles per hour are likely in the valley with gusts exceeding 50 miles per hour along mountain ridges.

There are currently more than 3,000 firefighters battling the Camp Fire. It’s still estimated that more than 6400 homes and 260 businesses have been destroyed.

52,000 people have been displaced and Butte County is reporting that evacuation centers are continuing to fill up.

Both evacuation centers at the Butte County Fairgrounds and the Glenn County Fairgrounds are now at capacity.

Evacuation centers at both the Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds and Chester Memorial Hall are still open. 

Butte County schools will be out until Nov. 23rd and CSU Chico until Nov. 26th.

We are going to continue to bring you top and bottom of the hour updates throughout the day. And we will always break in if there is any critical information our listeners need to know. Stay tuned.

Evacs 

Butte County Sheriff Twitter page 

Cal Fire Public Info Line – 530.538.7826 

People Locators 

safeandwell.org 

People Wanting to Volunteer 

Caring Choice, 1398 Ridgewood, Chico     530.899.3873 (Present in person or call) 

Caring Choice is contracted by Butte County to coordinate crisis volunteers.  They assess needs and skills, and direct appropriately. 

Shelters/People 

According to our latest information, only the Yuba-Sutter Fairground, 442 Franklin Ave., Yuba City is accepting evacuees.  We’ll check to see if any additional centers are going to be opened. 

Shelters/Animal 

Small animal shelters are open 

  • In Chico:  Chico Muni Airport, 150 Airpark Blvd. 

  • In Oroville: Old County Hosp., 2279 Del Oro and Mono  

When evacuating, take your animals – bring water, food, bedding, meds, containment. 

If you’re unable to evacuate livestock or large animals, leave in open pastures with food.  Do NOT lock in barns.