Cooler weather and calmer winds have slowed the Camp Fire considerably in the last few days. The Camp Fire, which at one time was charring 60,000 acres a day, has averaged 10,000 acres per day over the last three days bringing the total acres to 141,000 acres and 40% containment.
Officials have finally been able to safely get into areas inaccessible until recently to do more a thorough investigation. The Butte County Sheriff has brought in National Guard troops and coroners to help search the area and record the enormous scene.
Deputies, National Guard troops, firefighters and coroners will be spending future days searching burnt vehicles and sifting through the smoldering rubble of destroyed residences.
The latest numbers are staggering as the death toll reached 63 late Thursday, and over 600 individuals are now listed as missing. Authorities have also had to extend searches to the surrounding communities of Magalia and Concow that also were overrun in the first days of the fire.
Close to 10,000 residences have been destroyed to date, not including almost 300 commercial structures. Six out of seven evacuation centers are full to capacity in the area and reports of a Noro-virus type sickness has stricken at least one evacuation facility.
Firefighters continue to work throughout the days in all areas of the fire to continue suppression efforts while working to strengthen and improve control lines. Many portions of the fire are now burning in steep and rugged terrain where direct fire attack is difficult. Established containment lines are holding and firefighters continue to patrol the interior of the fire for hot spots.
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