California Wildfires 2017 Latest News Update: Death Toll Rises to 31
At least 31 people have perished from the massive wildfires in California, which continues to consume and incinerate homes and buildings in its path.
The death toll from the recent series of wildfires in California has risen to 31 as of Thursday. Authorities say that half of the recorded deaths occurred in Sonoma County, which sustained most of the destruction. About 400 people are reported to be missing in Santa Rosa, and 3,000 homes have reportedly been destroyed.
"We all have suffered a trauma here, and we're going to be a long time in recovering from this incident," Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey said during the press briefing on Thursday. "The city of Santa Rosa has suffered a serious blow in these fires."
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The fatalities from this week's fires now exceed that of the 1933 Griffith Park Fire in Los Angeles, which was once dubbed the deadliest wildfire in the history of California.
About 190,000 acres have been affected by the wildfires, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said on Thursday afternoon.
As of Thursday morning, over 8,000 of firefighters and support personnel were still battling 21 large wildfires across several counties, which has forced over 20,000 residents to evacuate, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. At least, a thousand fire department from San Diego to Oregon has also joined forces. Neighboring states such as Nevada and Washington have assisted with resources.
Mark Ghilarducci, director of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, said that they have requested resources from Idaho, Montana, North and South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, and Australia.
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office has arrested five people for looting in evacuated areas, three of whom were natives of Santa Rosa. A 28-year-old male stole two bikes and narcotics while a 48-year-old woman and a 49-year-old woman were also arrested.
