Day 3: Death toll climbs to 23 in Camp Fire

Nov. 10--PARADISE -- The death toll climbed to 23 as firefighters made some progress overnight to establish control of the Camp Fire in Butte County, which is already the most destructive wildfire in state history.

The amount of acreage burned increased to 105,000 acres but containment jumped from 5 percent to 20 percent. With 6,713 structures burned, including 6,453 homes and much of the town of Paradise, it supplanted the Tubbs Fire in wine country last year that burned 5,636 structures as the most destructive.

Fourteen fatalities were confirmed Saturday by Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea in the evening press conference. Including the nine dead confirmed Friday, the total of confirmed fatalities rose to 23.

Identifying the dead has been difficult because of the condition of the bodies. Four extra coroner teams are helping the Butte County Coroner with another on the way and scheduled to arrive Sunday. The deceased are being sent to the Sacramento County Coroner's Office.

Honea said four of the bodies found Saturday were in Concow. Two of those were found in cars while the other two were found in houses. The other 10 bodies were found in Paradise. Of those, seven were found in homes and three of the deceased were found outside homes.

Now firefighters are concerned about protecting the city of Oroville.

An evacuation warning was upgraded Saturday to an order for Oro Quincy Highway from Forbestown Road east to Mountain House. That includes the communities of Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Mountain House and Bloomer Hill.

As of 6 p.m. Saturday, there were no damages caused by fire in the Berry Creek area.

The Glenn County Fairgrounds evacuation shelter in Orland is now full and cannot accept anymore evacuees nor donations, the Glenn County Sheriff's Office said Saturday afternoon. Those seeking shelter are being sent to Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds located at 442 Franklin Ave. in Yuba City, and Chester Memorial Hall located at 22 Gay Street in Chester.

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The fire started Thursday at Camp Creek Road in the Feather River Canyon near Pulga. Investigators are looking at PG&E power lines as a possible cause of the fire. The blaze overran Concow, Paradise and Butte Creek Canyon in a matter of hours.

Three firefighters have been injured, and 3,223 are fighting the blaze. In addition, there are 23 helicopters, 67 bulldozers and 440 engines assigned to the fire.

Strong northeast winds are expected to return Saturday evening, which has firefighters concerned. Despite cold overnight temperatures, the high winds and low humidity make for dangerous conditions. A red flag warning is in effect through Monday.

The most active part of the fire is in the Magalia and Paradise Pines area. Cal Fire reports that fire lines are holding south of Highway 32 near Chico.

The fire is also burning toward Big Bend and Berry Creek. Cal Fire said the forecast northeast wind "has the potential to drive fire across Lake Oroville threatening the city of Oroville."

With the newest evacuation order, the entire east-central county has been ordered to evacuate. The area is roughly everything between Big Chico Creek and the Middle Fork of the Feather River, east of a line including the Chico city limits, Highway 99, Highway 149, Highway 70, Cherokee Road and Lake Oroville. All the roads within that area are closed.

Highway 70 is closed between Highway 149 near Oroville and Highway 89 near Greenville. Highway 32 is closed from Yosemite Drive in Chico to Highway 36 in Deer Creek Meadows.

Evacuees in need of supplies can now pick up items at the Hope Center located at 1950 Kitrick Ave. A, Oroville, Butte County officials said. Community members can also still donate items and can drop them off at the Oroville Municipal Auditorium located at 1200 Myers St., Oroville. They are in need of warm clothes, shoes, socks and coats.

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