Flames from the Camp Fire burn near a home atop a ridge near Big Bend, California. — AFP/VNA PhotoViet Nam News LOS ANGELES — Insurance claims from the recent devastating California wildfires that killed at least 89 people and destroyed 19,000 homes and businesses have reached at least US$9 billion, the state’s insurance commissioner said on Wednesday. "The devastating wildfires of 2018 were the deadliest and costliest wildfire catastrophes in California’s history," said California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "The tragic deaths ... and over $9 billion in insured losses to date are shocking numbers -- behind the insured loss numbers are thousands of people who’ve been traumatised by unfathomable loss." He said the figures released in connection with the three wildfires -- the Camp Fire, The Woolsey Fire and the Hill Fire -- are preliminary. State and federal authorities announced on Tuesday that it will cost at least $3 billion to clear debris … [Read more...] about At least $9bn in insurance claims from California fires
California fire
Nine die in California wildfires, tens of thousands forced to flee
Nine people were declared dead and tens of thousands evacuated Friday as fierce wildfires raged across the western US state of California, with one rapidly spreading blaze threatening the famed resort of Malibu. All of the fatalities were reported in a massive late-season inferno in the town of Paradise, in Butte County north of the state capital Sacramento, where the entire population of 26,000 was ordered to leave, officials said. The fast moving blaze, known as the "Camp Fire," began Thursday morning. Fanned by strong winds, it has scorched 70,000 acres (28,300 hectares) and has not been contained, the California Fire Department (Cal Fire) said. Two other fires broke out in southern California, one in Ventura County near Thousand Oaks, where a Marine Corps veteran shot dead 12 people in a country music bar on Wednesday night. "The magnitude of destruction we have seen is really unbelievable and heartbreaking and our hearts go to everybody who has been affected by this," said … [Read more...] about Nine die in California wildfires, tens of thousands forced to flee
Five die in California wildfires, 150,000 forced to flee
The blaze also threatened the famed resort of Malibu. The victims died in their vehicles trying to escape a massive late-season inferno in the northern California town of Paradise, where the entire population of 26,000 was ordered to leave, officials said. "The preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were located in vehicles that were overcome by the Camp Fire," said a statement by the Butte County Sheriff's Department, adding that they had yet to be identified. Dozens of other people were reported missing. Residents who managed to escape Paradise posted harrowing videos to social media as they drove through tunnels of swirling smoke and orange flames to outrun the wildfire in the Butte County town, north of Sacramento. The fast-moving Camp Fire has been fanned by strong winds to scorch 20,000 acres (8,093 hectares) and has not been contained, the California Fire Department (Cal Fire) said. The flames destroyed hundreds of homes, a hospital, a gas station, several … [Read more...] about Five die in California wildfires, 150,000 forced to flee
Senior Trump officials survey California fire devastation
LOS ANGELES — Senior members of President Donald Trump’s administration visited California Monday as blazes that have killed at least eight people continued to cut a catastrophic swathe through the country’s most populous state. Tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes over the last month, with 14 fires still threatening land and property from south of Los Angeles to the state’s border with Oregon. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke – wrapping up a two-day tour of the Carr Fire’s path to the west of Redding in northern California – met rescuers alongside Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Over the weekend, firefighters made encouraging progress on the inferno, which has destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other property, according to federal and local government data. But the 82,000-hectare blaze is still less than two-thirds contained after killing eight people and prompting the evacuation of 40,000. "Thanks to all firefighters … [Read more...] about Senior Trump officials survey California fire devastation
Seventh person dies as northern California wildfires spread
A couple of other fast-growing wildfires in the state expanded by more than 25 percent overnight and continued to spread. More residents were ordered to evacuate their homes as weary firefighters endured high temperatures and gusting winds. The Carr fire, about 162 miles (261 km) north of Sacramento, claimed the life of a power company lineman Saturday, according to a CBS affiliate citing a spokesman for the PG&E Corporation. Neither a spokesman with the electric company nor fire officials were immediately available for comment. No other details about the death were made public. The Carr fire, one of the most destructive in California history, had already killed six people, including a great-grandmother and two children, and a firefighter and bulldozer operator. Two other blazes collectively called the Mendocino Complex burned in Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties, about 90 miles north of San Francisco. The River and Ranch fires had grown to cover a total of 229,000 acres (92,600 … [Read more...] about Seventh person dies as northern California wildfires spread