Death toll increased to 31 in California wildfires

California, October 13: The wildfire swept northern California as the death toll rose to 31. The conditions would be very poor in coming times and the due to the fire hundreds of people went missing as at least 22 fires rampaged across the state's famous wine country.

More than 3,500 buildings and homes over 170,000 acres were destroyed due to wildfires and displaced about 25,000 people. More than 8,000 firefighters are now battling the flames. The forecasters have warned that the strong winds have flamed the fire in recent days and on Friday night it is set to pick up again. The reason behind the wildfire which started on Sunday night is still not clear, but the assumptions are made that the power lines blown over by the strong winds could be the reason behind the disaster.

 

According to the local media, Later Thursday, Of the 31 deaths, 17 were in Sonoma County, eight were in Mendocino County, four were in Yuba County and two were in Napa County. The death toll from the wildfires in the wine country has now exceeded that of the 1991 Oakland Hills fire, which totaled 25. The Cedar fire, which swept through San Diego County in 2003, killed 15 people and destroyed more than 2,800 structures.

Late Thursday, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office identified 10 people who died in that county namely Carol Collins-Swasey, 76, of Santa Rosa, Lynne Anderson Powell, 72, of Santa Rosa, Arthur Tasman Grant, 95, of Santa Rosa, Suiko Grant, 75, of Santa Rosa, Donna Mae Halbur, 80, of Larkfield-Wikiup, Leroy Peter Halbur, 80, of Larkfield-Wikiup, Valerie Lynn Evans, 75, of Santa Rosa, Carmen Caldentey Berriz, 75, of Apple Valley, Michael John Dornbach, 57, of Calistoga, Veronica Elizabeth McCombs, 67, of Santa Rosa.