Thursday, 12/10/2017 20:49 (GMT+7)
The massive forest fire hit Northern California, killing 21 people.
(Photo: Reuters)
At least 3,500 homes and businesses have been destroyed since the wildfires started on October 8th, making them the third deadliest and most destructive blazes in state history.
Over 550 fire engines, 73 helicopters and 8,000 firefighters were working the blazes.
Ken Pimlott, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, described the fires as “a serious, critical, catastrophic event”.
Sonoma County officials said Wednesday they had reports of some 300 people still missing.
"We have had big fires in the past. This is one of the biggest, most serious, and it's not over," Gov. Jerry Brown said in a news conference on October 11th.
Mr. Brown has declared an emergency in eight counties: Napa, Sonoma, Yuba, Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada and Orange. President Trump has issued a major disaster declaration; the Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing federal disaster assistance to California to bolster state, tribal and local recovery efforts./.
Compiled by BTA