Northern California Wildfires Death Toll Update: 40 Reported Dead; Evacuation Orders Lifted in Some Areas
In the almost weeklong battle with the massive wildfires that still burn in the Northern California countryside, authorities have reported a death toll of 40. Some mandatory evacuation orders have also been lifted in a few areas on Sunday, Oct. 15.
Some neighborhood sections in Napa County just had their mandatory evacuation orders lifted on Sunday noon, according to SF Gate. According to representatives of the Napa County Sheriff's Office, they have lifted the mandate to leave for residents of Gordon Valley Road and Wooden Valley Cross Road before the afternoon of Oct. 15.
Notices advising Napa city limits residents to evacuate were also lifted. Instead, authorities are reminding the remaining residents to "exercise caution while emergency vehicles continue to operate within the area."
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The development came about with the Tubbs and Atlas fires looking to be in control, as firefighters shift their attention to the 47,000-acre Nuns Fire, a massive accumulation of four other wildfires in the region. Fire officials announced that they are turning the majority of their efforts to that particular blaze on Sunday, as well.
The death toll has risen to 40 by the weekend, according to the Los Angeles Times. Progress in taking the fire under control looks to have improved, however, with winds expected to die down just before the weekend ends. Cooler temperatures are also expected in the coming days.
While the death tally has more or less stabilized to 40, damage estimates are expected to rise now that assessors have more time to conduct field surveys on the ruin left behind by the wildfires. Damages are currently estimated to be about $3 billion.
Power is expected to be mostly restored in Napa and Sonoma counties starting Monday, Oct. 16, according to the Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
During the peak of the fire, about 310,000 clients lost power as wildfires ravaged the Northern California counties. About 92 percent of those has been restored before Sunday noon this weekend, with an estimated 21,300 customers remaining without gas or electricity by Monday.
