Updated 11 a.m.
Nearly 300,000 acres (or 470 square miles) have burned throughout California this year. That’s more than 2.5 times the average amount of land scorched over the last five years.
Contributing one-fourth of that statistic is the Valley Fire in Lake County. It’s been deemed one of the state’s most destructive. Tuesday the fire led President Barack Obama to declare a major disaster in the state. The decision will release federal money for recovery and cleanup.
Valley Fire
Evacuations continue to be lifted in Lake County, where the 118-square-mile Valley Fire has killed four people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes. According to the Associated Press, sheriff's officials Tuesday night found remains in the Cobb area and believe they belong to 66-year-old Robert Taylor Fletcher, whose home was destroyed. He was last seen Sept. 16. Officials say 61-year-old Robert Litchman of Lake County was still missing as of Wednesday.
The Lake County Sherriff’s Office has had reports of 15 missing people since the Valley Fire began on Sept 12. Road closures continue to be lifted. Those traveling in the area should double-check for closures at the California Department of Transportation website. The fire is currently 80 percent contained.
Butte Fire
Farther south, is the Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras Counties burning east of Jackson. It’s still 110 square miles in size and is now 84 percent contained. Two people have been killed and 500 homes have been destroyed. While all evacuations have been lifted, 6,400 structures remain threatened. The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office established a missing persons hotline related to the Butte Fire. To report a missing person related to the fire, call: 209-754-6345.
Trinity County Fire Complexes
The 120-square-mile River Complex continues to slow allowing fire crews to continue move toward suppression. It’s now 66 percent contained. Also in the area is the 57-square-mile Fork Complex. It’s 97 percent contained. The 46-square-mile South Complex is 94 percent contained.
For more on these and other California wildfires, visit the state or federal wildfire websites.