21/09/2020
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES1:09am Sep 19, 2020
California fires: Couples' deadly fate based on erroneous information
California fires: Deadly fate of California couple hung in the balance with erroneous information
By CNN
4:01pm Sep 16, 2020
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
WATCH AND READ
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
Two people found dead near their destroyed home were packed and ready to evacuate the North Complex Fire in Northern California last week but changed their minds based on erroneous information.
Six days ago, Philip Ruble, 68, was found inside of burned-up Toyota pickup at the home and Millicent Catarncuic, 77 was found in a nearby embankment, according to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.
READ MORE: Trump denies climate change during west coast wildfires
A home burns during the Bear fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires in the Berry Creek area of Butte County. (AFP via Getty Images)
"After speaking to family members, it is believed the pair was aware of the fire in the area," Mr Honea said.
"They had packed their belongings in preparation to evacuate but later decided not to evacuate based on erroneous information that the fire was 51 per cent contained."
The pair lived in Berry Creek, which has been all but decimated by the Bear Fire, part of the North Complex.
Berry Creek was under an evacuation order as of 3.15pm last Tuesday. The information was posted on social media sites and on the fire information line, and transmitted via ham radio.
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California fires: Deadly fate of California couple hung in the balance with erroneous information
By CNN
4:01pm Sep 16, 2020
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
WATCH AND READ
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
Play Video
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
1 / 20><
Two people found dead near their destroyed home were packed and ready to evacuate the North Complex Fire in Northern California last week but changed their minds based on erroneous information.
Six days ago, Philip Ruble, 68, was found inside of burned-up Toyota pickup at the home and Millicent Catarncuic, 77 was found in a nearby embankment, according to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.
READ MORE: Trump denies climate change during west coast wildfires
A home burns during the Bear fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires in the Berry Creek area of Butte County. (AFP via Getty Images)
"After speaking to family members, it is believed the pair was aware of the fire in the area," Mr Honea said.
"They had packed their belongings in preparation to evacuate but later decided not to evacuate based on erroneous information that the fire was 51 per cent contained."
The pair lived in Berry Creek, which has been all but decimated by the Bear Fire, part of the North Complex.
Berry Creek was under an evacuation order as of 3.15pm last Tuesday. The information was posted on social media sites and on the fire information line, and transmitted via ham radio.
Firefighters search through a burned residence during the Bear fire, part of the larger North Lightning Complex fire, in the Berry Creek area of unincorporated Butte county, California on September 14, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images)
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Deputies also went through the area with evacuation sirens and door to door where possible, Butte County spokeswoman Megan McCann said.
It is unknown where the couple saw or heard the containment figure.
The number is not typically part of evacuation orders. The fire also quickly grew the day the couple died.
The North Complex Fire has caused 15 fatalities, with 13 people currently unaccounted for.
It has been burning for close to a month and is the eighth largest in California's history, having charred 110,000 hectares and burned down more than 780 structures, including the Berry Creek Elementary School.
Kids desks sit in the remains of the Berry Creek School that was destroyed by the Bear Fire on September 14, 2020 in Berry Creek, California. (Getty)
A melted slide remains at Berry Creek School which burned down during the Bear fire, part of the larger North Lightning Complex fire. (AFP via Getty Images)
One firefighter has been injured.
Man survives flames but loses farm
Eddie Campos watched helplessly as flames raced toward his family farm in Jamul, California.
"We called for air support. We called for ground support. We called for chopper support. And we couldn't get no help at all," Mr Campos said.
"We tried to get all our personal belongings and I told our kids, 'It's time, and our lives are in danger now.'
"It's just a horrible experience, seeing this fireball headed toward us. It was devastating."Soon, his farm was engulfed in flames but his family was lucky.
At least 34 people have died in the Western wildfires, which have torched more than 1.9 million hectares.
The National Interagency Fire Centre said at least 87 wildfires are burning in 11 states.
Many are filling the sky with choking smoke and pushing firefighters beyond exhaustion.
Santa Fe Hotshots firefighters perform maintenance on their equipment at the end of their shift while working the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 14, 2020 near Arcadia, California. (Getty)
"We have so many brave firefighters who are working unending hours to try to contain these fires," Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said.
"We are living through an unprecedented situation here on the West Coast and in California."
16 people are missing in Oregon
Near the Beachie Creek fire east of Salem, Oregon, Scott Fogarty has no idea what happened to his long-time friend George Atiyeh.
But he knows what happened to Atiyeh's property.
"His home was completely lost, and his shop," Mr Fogarty said, holding photos of his friend.
Mr Atiyeh is among at least 16 people missing in the Oregon wildfires, which have already killed eight people in the state.
Keith Davis, a member of Washington Task Force One Search and Rescue squad praises search dog Asher while conducting operations in Oregon. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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California fires: Deadly fate of California couple hung in the balance with erroneous information
By CNN
4:01pm Sep 16, 2020
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
WATCH AND READ
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
Play Video
US authorities arrest four people accused of deliberately starting fires
1 / 20><
Two people found dead near their destroyed home were packed and ready to evacuate the North Complex Fire in Northern California last week but changed their minds based on erroneous information.
Six days ago, Philip Ruble, 68, was found inside of burned-up Toyota pickup at the home and Millicent Catarncuic, 77 was found in a nearby embankment, according to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.
READ MORE: Trump denies climate change during west coast wildfires
A home burns during the Bear fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires in the Berry Creek area of Butte County. (AFP via Getty Images)
"After speaking to family members, it is believed the pair was aware of the fire in the area," Mr Honea said.
"They had packed their belongings in preparation to evacuate but later decided not to evacuate based on erroneous information that the fire was 51 per cent contained."
The pair lived in Berry Creek, which has been all but decimated by the Bear Fire, part of the North Complex.
Berry Creek was under an evacuation order as of 3.15pm last Tuesday. The information was posted on social media sites and on the fire information line, and transmitted via ham radio.
Firefighters search through a burned residence during the Bear fire, part of the larger North Lightning Complex fire, in the Berry Creek area of unincorporated Butte county, California on September 14, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images)
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Enormous wildfire threatens homes near California desert
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Deputies also went through the area with evacuation sirens and door to door where possible, Butte County spokeswoman Megan McCann said.
It is unknown where the couple saw or heard the containment figure.
The number is not typically part of evacuation orders. The fire also quickly grew the day the couple died.
The North Complex Fire has caused 15 fatalities, with 13 people currently unaccounted for.
It has been burning for close to a month and is the eighth largest in California's history, having charred 110,000 hectares and burned down more than 780 structures, including the Berry Creek Elementary School.
Kids desks sit in the remains of the Berry Creek School that was destroyed by the Bear Fire on September 14, 2020 in Berry Creek, California. (Getty)
A melted slide remains at Berry Creek School which burned down during the Bear fire, part of the larger North Lightning Complex fire. (AFP via Getty Images)
One firefighter has been injured.
Man survives flames but loses farm
Eddie Campos watched helplessly as flames raced toward his family farm in Jamul, California.
"We called for air support. We called for ground support. We called for chopper support. And we couldn't get no help at all," Mr Campos said.
"We tried to get all our personal belongings and I told our kids, 'It's time, and our lives are in danger now.'
"It's just a horrible experience, seeing this fireball headed toward us. It was devastating."
A firefighter keeps watch as flames advance along the Western Divide Highway during near Camp Nelson, California. (Getty)
Soon, his farm was engulfed in flames but his family was lucky.
At least 34 people have died in the Western wildfires, which have torched more than 1.9 million hectares.
The National Interagency Fire Centre said at least 87 wildfires are burning in 11 states.
Many are filling the sky with choking smoke and pushing firefighters beyond exhaustion.
Santa Fe Hotshots firefighters perform maintenance on their equipment at the end of their shift while working the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 14, 2020 near Arcadia, California. (Getty)
"We have so many brave firefighters who are working unending hours to try to contain these fires," Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said.
"We are living through an unprecedented situation here on the West Coast and in California."
16 people are missing in Oregon
Near the Beachie Creek fire east of Salem, Oregon, Scott Fogarty has no idea what happened to his long-time friend George Atiyeh.
But he knows what happened to Atiyeh's property.
"His home was completely lost, and his shop," Mr Fogarty said, holding photos of his friend.
Mr Atiyeh is among at least 16 people missing in the Oregon wildfires, which have already killed eight people in the state.
Keith Davis, a member of Washington Task Force One Search and Rescue squad praises search dog Asher while conducting operations in Oregon. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Burned out vehicles line the road through the Blue River, Oregon, business district September 15, 2020, eight days after the Holiday Farm Fire swept through the area. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Officials had said 10 people died, but two sets of recovered remains turned out to be those of animals, according to Paula Negele of the state's Office of Emergency Management.
Authorities fear more deaths.
A nurse packs for evacuation, then goes back to work
Betty Stevens and Fred Andrews packed in the dark as the fire approached their home near Medford, Oregon.
They weren't quite sure whether they should leave, but a police car went down the street urging people over the loudspeaker to leave.
They did, but Ms Stevens went back to work at a hospital where she is a respiratory therapist in the neonatal intensive care unit, where she helped evacuate young patients.
READ MORE: Fire affected landscape still 'dead as dead' six months on
The burned remains of homes line a neighborhood destroyed in the Almeda Fire on September 15, 2020 in Oregon. (Getty)
A melted traffic cone points toward a numbered parking spot in an apartment complex that burned to the ground on September 15, 2020 in Talent, Oregon. (Getty)
"It was better than sitting in my friend's home and thinking about what could be happening," she said.
"I was extremely concerned that the fire obviously would come to the hospital and that we'd have the adequate staff to evacuate premature babies who are dependent on oxygen."
The next day, Ms Stevens went by her neighbourhood. The homes were gone. She went to their lot. It was ashes and rubble. The creek in the backyard was dried up.
"Nothing was really recognisable," she said.
"It didn't feel like my home. It just felt like just pain. It was just very painful to see."
The 36 victims include a boy and his grandmother
At least 25 people have died in the California wildfires.
The Butte County Sheriff's Office has identified seven victims of the North Complex Fire, who ranged in age from 16 to 70 and died in Berry Creek.
READ MORE: Australia to send 55 firefighters to the US to battle wildfires
The eight people killed in Oregon included 13-year-old Wyatt Tofte and his grandmother, Peggy Mosso.
And in Washington state, one child was killed, Governor Jay Inslee said.
Oregon Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps urged those who are evacuating to register with the American Red Cross so officials and loved ones will know they're safe.
"If you're concerned for missing family, please report that concern to the local law enforcement entity," he said.
Washington air quality is 'oppressive'
In Washington, the air quality is more than uncomfortable.
Mr Inslee called it "oppressive."
"It remains unhealthy at best, and hazardous at worst," he said.
Cars drive on I-5 in front of a hazy Seattle skyline due to wildfire smoke on September 11, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Getty)
In fact, parts of the West Coast now have the worst air quality in the world, according to the air quality monitoring group IQAir.
Golden Gate Bridge obscured as wildfires burn through California
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Mr Inslee said the wildfires, which have burned 250,000 hectares in the state, have resulted in the most consecutive days of hazardous air quality since the state began regular monitoring nearly two decades ago.
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