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A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 20 November 2018

Frantic search goes on for missing after California wildfire

By SUDHIN THANAWALA
and JANIE HAR
Associated Press
CHICO, Calif. (AP) — Des-
perate families posted pho-
tos and messages on social
media and at shelters in
hopes of finding missing
loved ones, many of them
elderly, nearly two weeks
after the deadliest, most
destructive wildfire in Cali-
fornia history. The death toll
stood at 77 Monday, with
about 1,000 people unac-
counted for.
“I have an uncle and two
cousins that I have not
been able to make con-
tact with. Paul Williams, in
his 90’s, his son Paul Wayne
Williams, in his 70’s, and his
daughter Gayle Williams
in her 60’s,” one woman
wrote on Facebook. “Any
info would be appreciat-
ed.”
Hundreds of searchers con-
tinued looking for human
remains in the ashes in Par-
adise and outlying areas
ravaged by the blaze Nov.
8, with the body count in- In this Nov. 15, 2018, photo, Troy Miller wipes his eyes as he walks beside a burned out car on his property in Concow, Calif.
Associated Press
creasing daily.
Rain in Wednesday’s fore-
cast added urgency to the many people would con- account for people enter- gency Management land, San Francisco’s cable
task: While it could help tact authorities to say they ing and leaving shelters. Agency center for help, cars, the Oakland Zoo and
knock down the flames, it are OK. More than a dozen Evacuees also helped au- and a FEMA representative other San Francisco Bay-
could hinder the search by people are listed as “un- thorities narrow the list. showed her the list of the area area attractions were
washing away fragmentary knowns,” without first or last Robert James Miles, who missing. She recognized the closed Monday because
remains and turning ash names. Some names are lost his Paradise trailer in the names of two people from of smoke from the blaze
into a thick paste. duplicated. blaze, was staying at a shel- her archery club. some 180 miles (290 kilo-
The sheriff’s list of those un- “We put the list out. It will ter in Chico, where people “I’m going to have to con- meters) away. Several San
accounted for dropped fluctuate. It will go up. It posted names of those tact other people to see if Francisco museums over
dramatically Sunday from will go down because this they hadn’t heard from. they’re OK,” she said. She the weekend offered free
nearly 1,300 to 1,000 as is in a state of flux,” Honea Miles said he alerted a Red said she would call the admission to give people
authorities continued to lo- said Monday. “My view on Cross worker Saturday that sheriff’s office if she con- something to do indoors.
cate people. Social media this has been that I would he recognized eight names firmed they were safe. California Insurance Com-
pages gave updates on prefer to get the informa- on the board as friends and The fire, which burned at missioner Dave Jones said
who was dead and who tion out and start working knew they were OK. least 234 square miles (606 it is “way too early” to es-
was safe. to find who is unaccounted “Two of them were in the square kilometers) and timate the damage done
Butte County Sheriff Kory for and who is not. I would shelter,” he said with a destroyed nearly 12,000 by the wildfire. But for per-
Honea has said he re- put progress over perfec- chuckle. homes, reported was two- spective, he said the fires
leased the rough and in- tion.” Ellen Lewis, whose home thirds contained on Mon- that gutted 6,800 homes
complete list in hopes that He said his office was work- in Paradise was destroyed, day. last year resulted in $12.6
ing with the Red Cross to went to a Federal Emer- Meanwhile, Alcatraz Is- billion in insured losses.q