Over 600 Now Missing, 63 Dead in California's Deadliest Blaze

"PARADISE, Calif. - A search for victims of a catastrophic blaze that reduced a northern California town to ashes intensified on Thursday, as authorities expanded to 630 the number of those reported missing in the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history.

At least 63 people have been confirmed dead in the Camp Fire, which erupted a week ago in the drought-parched Sierra foothills 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco and now ranks as one of the most lethal single U.S. wildfires since the turn of the last century.

Authorities attributed the high death toll in part to the staggering speed with which the wind-driven flames, fueled by desiccated scrub and trees, raced with little warning through Paradise, a town of 27,000."

Terray Sylvester reports for Reuters November 15, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"Americans Are Moving Closer to Nature, and Into Fire Zones" (New York Times)

"The Fires In California Highlight — And Worsen — The State’s Income Divide" (Vox)

"See How A Warmer World Primed California For Large Fires" (National Geographic)

"California’s Wildfires Don’t Have to Be So Deadly" (New Republic)

"Trump And His Archrival On Climate Talk About Deadly Burn" (ClimateWire)

Source: Reuters, 11/16/2018