By Kevin Byrne, AccuWeather staff writer
November 16, 2018, 9:47:12 PM EST
More than a week after first igniting in Butte County, California, the news surrounding the most destructive and deadly wildfire in California history remains grim.
The death toll from the Camp Fire increased to 71 on Friday, as investigators continued to scour the charred wreckage of the community of Paradise and the surrounding area. Many people had only minutes to flee the explosive blaze when it ignited in early morning hours of Nov. 8. The community was said to be"wiped out" by the fire.
Officials said the number of people missing had grown to over 1,000. Previous reports listed about 130 missing persons in the wake of the blaze.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
Officials stand over human remains at a burned out home destroyed by the Camp Fire, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
A bag containing human remains lies on the ground as officials continue to search at a burned out home at the Camp Fire, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Paradise, Calif.
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A vintage car rests among debris as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
(Photo/Jason Weinrich)
The sun being obscured by wildfire smoke.
(AP Photo/Nicole Kowalczyke)
This photo provided by Nicole Kowalczyke shows a piece of a burned page that fell out of the sky in Chico, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, as the Camp Fire burns nearby.
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames consume a home as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. A California fire official says a fast-moving wildfire in Northern California has destroyed structures and injured civilians.
(Photo/@shianalee)
Cars driving through flames as people evacuate from the Camp Fire.
(Photo/@Bugga_since_03)
Smoke from the Camp Fire as seen from North Chico, California.
(Twitter Photo/@CAL_FIRE)
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
(Photo/Berkeley Firefighters)
(Photo/Berkeley Firefighters)
(Twitter Photo/@JasonHalley_CSU)
(Twitter Photo/@CAL_FIRE)
(Twitter Photo/@JasonHalley_CSU)
(Twitter Photo/@Harrisonfresh)
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames burn inside a van as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Flames consume a car dealership as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
As the Camp Fire burns nearby, a scorched car rests by gas pumps near Pulga, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018.
(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A vehicle drives through smoke from a wildfire near Pulga, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at a press conference that he believes the increase in missing or unaccounted for persons is because people who evacuated quickly during the early stages of the fire, and are currently safe, may not be aware that they are considered missing. He said officials are making the list of missing people public so people can see if their name is on it and can call authorities to tell them them are safe.
Firefighters implemented both indirect and direct fire attack methods on Thursday to make progress in containing the fire. Many portions of the fire are burning in steep and rugged terrain where direct fire attack is difficult, according to the Cal Fire situation summary.
"Mitigating hazard trees, hot spots, and utility issues remain a priority and firefighters are working around the clock with our cooperators to make the area safe," officials said.
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The blaze has currently charred 146,000 acres and is 50 percent contained.
Some evacuation warnings or orders were lifted on Thursday. A local assistance center was opening on Friday in Chico. The center will serve as a place for affected residents to connect with the necessary officials and resources as they begin the recovery process. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials will also meet with those looking to apply for federal assistance.
Welcome relief in the form of higher humidity, less winds, lower temperatures and some rain could arrive in the state next week.
Air quality concerns persisted throughout Northern California as firefighters continued to combat the blaze.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health changed its air quality status to purple, or "very unhealthy." San Francisco Mayor London Breed requested that all San Francisco Municipal Railway Services (Muni) be free on Friday, Nov. 16.
Because the vehicles are not full enclosed, San Francisco's famed cable cars were pulled off the streets.
The skyline is obscured by smoke and haze from wildfires as a tour boat makes its way along the waterfront Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
“By making Muni free, we are allowing people who might need to travel to a respite center, to work or to another destination to have access to transportation without having to expose themselves to smoke outside for a long period of time,” said Ed Reiskin, SFMTA Director of Transportation.
Schools in San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland and elsewhere said they would be closed due to poor air quality, the AP reported.
These pictures were taken from the island at roughly the same time and location, one week apart. Due to heavy #Smoke in the #BayArea, checking the air quality index (AQI) can help in making responsible choices when spending time outside.cfpub.epa.gov/airnow/index.c…
: Marc Stokes
The college football game between Cal and Stanford has been rescheduled to Dec. 1 because of the air quality. The rivalry game between the two schools, known as the "Big Game" was slated to be played at 4:30 p.m. at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.
"We have been carefully tracking air quality in Berkeley and the Bay Area over the past week, relying on the best data and guidance available to us from medical and environmental experts," said Cal Athletic Director Jim Knowlton. "The forecasts we have received show a minimal chance of the improvement necessary to hold the game on Saturday. While we would have preferred to play the Big Game on its scheduled date, once we realized that air quality would likely not return to acceptable levels, we made the decision to postpone for the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, gameday staff, students, band and spirit groups, alumni and fans."
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