I contributed to The Modesto Bee’s coverage of that fire and found acts of kindness and bravery by the firefighters, residents and neighbors then just as the Butte fire victims and evacuees are experiencing today. Cal Fire officials confirmed that 888 structures have been destroyed because of the fire, while more than 6,500 continue to be threatened. “Our crews have been in these areas since the beginning, and we will be there for the duration”. The report also said that El Niño poses as a threat because it will lead to unusually high temperatures, which could lead to more fires.
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Charred vehicles rest among the remains of houses burned down by the Valley Fire in Middletown, Calif., on Friday, September 18, 2015.
Meanwhile, the Valley Fire in Lake and Napa counties was listed as 45 percent contained after burning more than 73,700 acres and at least 585 residences since it began last Saturday. Two people were killed in the fire.
“As part of our support for CAL FIRE’s investigation, we are reviewing our inspection and patrol data for 2014 and 2015 for the area near this tree and we will be sharing the results of those inspections and patrols with CAL FIRE”.
The small amount of rain that fell in the area on Wednesday afternoon was helpful, McLean said, but in reality “it’s like spitting at the fire”.
The donations have been so generous that Jackson Rancheria can take in nothing more.
The Corona Fire Department has had up to 16 firefighters and three engines assigned to the Valley and Butte fires over the past week.
The blaze moved at such speed as it spread, that in its first hour four firefighters were overtaken by the flames and badly burned.
Crews made some real progress over the weekend to contain the massive Valley Fire. The extra funds, which come from California’s general fund, buy additional fire trucks, planes and helicopters, and help pay an expanding overtime budget.
“There is no end in sight”, McLean said.
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“A time like this is where we really test ourselves”. “Those north winds could (quickly) dry out all of the moisture we’ve received”.
