This post is no longer being updated. You can find the latest information about the Camp Fire by clicking here.
Update as of 9 p.m. Thursday
The death toll from the Camp Fire rose to 63 Thursday, with seven additional deaths reported by fire and law enforcement officials during the daily press conference.
Of those 7 additional deaths, 3 were in Magalia, 3 in paradise and 1 in Concow. Of the 63 who died, 53 have been tentatively identified, but officials are awaiting DNA confirmation before notifying next of kin.
The number of people reported unaccounted for jumped dramatically from 130 to 631 today. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said that his staff has been cross-referencing and re-checking all reports since the beginning of the fire, and that the numbers reported daily will continue to fluctuate, because he said: “A lot of people don’t know we’re looking for them”.
A list of missing persons is available online.
A local assistance center, staffed by federal, state and local officials will open tomorrow morning at the old Sears store in the Chico Mall on 20th street. It will be open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, encouraged all evacuees and other affected by the fire to apply for assistance either online at Disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
The Chico City Council will convene a special meeting at 8 a.m. Friday in the City Council Chambers to address fire-related issues, such as price gouging and public safety issues popping up in the city, as well as what next steps the city should take.
This is the last update for the Camp Fire tonight but please check back tomorrow morning for the latest news.
Update at 7:45 p.m. Thursday
Authorities say that 631 people are still unaccounted for after last week's deadly wildfire in Northern California.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said he believes there are people on the list who fled the blaze and don't realize they were reported missing. He said authorities were making the list public so people could see if they're on it, and let authorities know they are safe.
"You have to understand, folks: This is a dynamic list," Honea said. "Some days there might be more people. Some days there might be less people."
Honea announced the increased count at a news conference Thursday, after having said a day earlier that 130 people were unaccounted for.
He said the first figure was a partial count, and after authorities went back through all 911 calls and other reports of missing persons from the past week they came up with the new number.
The Nov. 8 fire killed 63 people, destroyed 9,700 homes and displaced 52,000 people in the town of Paradise and nearby towns.
One week after the fire started, firefighters reported progress in battling the 141,000-acre blaze that has displaced 52,000 people. It is now 40 percent contained, fire officials said.
Update at 5:04 p.m. Thursday
The Camp Fire has burned through more than 140,000 acres and is 40 percent contained. 56 people are confirmed dead with over 100 still listed as missing.
According to the White House, President Trump will be visiting California on Saturday to speak to people displaced due to the Camp Fire. We will release more details as we get them.
NSPR will be airing the 6 o’clock press briefing with Cal Fire from the Silver Dollar fairgrounds, technology permitting.
The City of Paradise will host a Town Hall meeting tonight at Laxson Auditorium and NSPR will broadcast that meeting as well, technology permitting.
The meeting will also be live-streamed on the Town of paradise Facebook page. Ch 13 on cable and 21 on satellite will also broadcast the meeting.
The latest information on evacuations include the Little Chico Creek area, where the evacuation order is lifted and the area will remain in an evacuation warning.
The area north of ten Mile House Road is open to Forest Ranch Road. Doe Mill Road south at Village Drive is closed. Santos Ranch Road, Wilder Drive, and Autumn Lane will remain closed.
In the Humbug Zone, the evacuation order is lifted. Doe Mill Road is open East to Powellton Road. Doe Mill Road is closed at Powellton Road.
The evacuation warning for the Forest Ranch zone is lifted. Forest Ranch Road North to Hwy 36 is open.
For an online viewer of evacuation status go to tinyurl.com/campfireevacs.
Update at 3:04 p.m. Thursday
According to the White House, President Trump will be visiting California on Saturday to speak to people displaced due to the Camp Fire. More details will be released as plans come together.
The Camp Fire has burned through more than 140,000 acres and is 40 percent contained.
We have new information on evacuations. In the Little Chico Creek area, the evacuation order is lifted and the area will remain in an evacuation warning. The area north of ten Mile House Road is open to Forest Ranch Road. Doe Mill Road south at Village Drive is closed. Santos Ranch Road, Wilder Drive, and Autumn Lane will remain closed.
In the Humbug Zone, the evacuation order is lifted. Doe Mill Road is open East to Powellton Road. Doe Mill Road is closed at Powellton Road.
The evacuation warning for the Forest Ranch zone is lifted. Forest Ranch Road North to Hwy 36 is open.
For more information on evacuations, go to tinyurl.com/campfireevacs.
NSPR will be airing the 6 o’clock press briefing with Cal Fire from the Silver Dollar fairgrounds, technology permitting.
A local assistance center, staffed by federal, state and local officials will open tomorrow morning at the old Sears store on 20th street in Chico.
Update at 1:15 p.m. Thursday
The death toll from Butte County’s Camp Fire has risen to 56 after remains of an additional eight people were recovered Wednesday in Paradise. Forty-seven of the dead have been tentatively identified, and the sheriff is awaiting for DNA confirmation before releasing those names.
Officials have cleared a number of missing-persons reports, but authorities are still trying to learn the whereabouts of 130 people still listed as missing.
A Norovirus outbreak reported yesterday at one of the evacuee shelters has spread to three others. Public health authorities report 145 people have experienced vomiting and diarrhea with 41 experiencing symptoms last night. Shelters with patients at the Butte County fairgrounds in Gridley, The Nazarene Church in Oroville, the Neighborhood church in Chico where the outbreak was first reported as well as a single patient at the East Avenue Church. The highly contagious ailment is easily spread and typically lasts 24 to 48 hours. It causes extreme gastrointestinal distress and is sometimes referred to as the cruise ship virus.
Calfire says the fire continued growing actively overnight, torching another 2,000 acres. The fire has burnt through 140,000 acres or 216 square miles since breaking out a week ago today. It is now 40 percent contained.
A total of 8,650 single-family homes have thus far been destroyed, along with 106 apartments and condos. A further 115 residences are damaged. Another 15,500 structures remain threatened. Firefighters are being dispatched to strengthen containment lines, attack the fire on the ground and from the air and to monitor and extinguish hot spots in places the fire has already passed through.
According to official estimates, 52,000 people remain evacuated and just over 1,300 residents are in local shelters. No new evacuation warning or orders have been issued.
After being re-opened for several hours yesterday, Caltrans has again closed State route 32 between Chico and Forest Ranch due to the ongoing wildfire.
Butte Regional Transit, better known as the B-line is offering free bus service all month on regular bus routes.
Officials say they’ve been inundated with generous clothing and other donations, and are asking for a shift to monetary donations enabling shelters and evacuees to purchase needed supplies.
Update at 11:25 a.m. Thursday
As some 450 rescue and recovery workers fanned out across Paradise, Concow and the devastated parts of Magalia and Butte Valley, continuing the grim search for additional fatalities, federal, state and local officials announced that they’ll open a Local Assistance Center Friday morning.
The center, a one stop shop where evacuees can connect with federal and state agencies, and apply for disaster assistance and other aid, will be located in the abandoned Sears and Roebuck location on 20th street in Chico, referred to by locals as the “new mall.” Information about homeowners’ insurance, rebuilding preparation, utility service and replacing vital records and official documents destroyed in the fire.
Authorities are asking evacuees to register on line at the website Disaster Assistance dot org, or call 800-621-3362. Operators are scheduled to staff that number from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily…..The Local Assistance Center will be open from 9 am until 7 p.m. beginning tomorrow. The location again, is the abandoned Sears in Chico.
Update at 9 a.m. Thursday
The death toll from Butte County’s Camp Fire has risen to 56 after remains of an additional eight people were recovered Wednesday in Paradise. Forty-seven of the dead have been tentatively identified, and the sheriff is awaiting for DNA confirmation before releasing those names.
Officials have cleared a number of missing-persons reports, but authorities are still trying to learn the whereabouts of 130 people still listed as missing.
Calfire says the fire continued growing actively overnight, torching another 2,000 acres. The fire has burnt through 140,000 acres or 216 square miles since breaking out a week ago today. It is now 40 percent contained.
A total of 8,650 single-family homes have thusfar been destroyed, along with 106 apartments and condos. A further 115 residences are damaged. Another 15,500 structures remain threatened. Firefighters are being dispatched to strengthen containment lines, attack the fire on the ground and from the air and to monitor and extinguish hot spots in places the fire has already passed through.
According to official estimates, 52,000 people remain evacuated and just over 1,300 residents are in local shelters. No new evacuation warning or orders have been issued.
After being re-opened for several hours yesterday, Caltrans has again closed State route 32 between Chico and Forest Ranch due to the ongoing wildfire.
Butte Regional Transit, better known as the B-line is offering free bus service all month on regular bus routes.
Officials say they’ve been inundated with generous clothing and other donations, and are asking for a shift to monetary donations enabling shelters and evacuees to purchase needed supplies.