California Wildfires Death Toll Rises to 44

A massive wildfire 90 miles north of Sacramento known as the "Camp Fire" has become California's deadliest fire on record after the death toll rose to 42 yesterday with dozens more unaccounted for. 

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea announced late Monday night that coroner's teams combing through the rubble for victims had recovered 13 more bodies. 

“This is an unprecedented event,” Honea said of the Camp Fire. “If you’ve been up there, you also know the magnitude of the scene we’re dealing with. I want to recover as many remains as we possibly can, as soon as we can, because I know the toll it takes on loved ones.

More teams are expected are expected to arrive on Tuesday to assist in the search, including two portable morgue units from the military, cadaver dogs and a mobile DNA lab which will be set up to help identify victims. 

The sheriff identified three of the victims of the Camp Fire as Ernest Foss, 65, of Paradise, Jesus Fernandez, 48, of Concow, and Carl Wiley, 77, of Magalia.

Further south at the destructive Woolsey Fire which has burned 96,000 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, two people were discovered inside a burned vehicle in a long driveway on Mulholland Highway. Homicide detectives say evidence points to the driver becoming disoriented before the vehicle was overwhelmed by the flames. 

Cal Fire Chief Scott Jalbert who is on-scene at the Woolsey Fire said drought conditions across the state had made fighting the fires even more dangerous and difficult for the more than 8,000 firefighters battling blazes on both sides of the state. 

"We are dealing with 30-foot brush and grass," he said. "Up in Northern California,  they are dealing with 150 foot trees in addition to 30 foot brush. The fuel loading is just tremendous."

The Woolsey Fire in Southern California has also burned at least 435 structures, and claimed the homes of several celebrities and the famed Paramount Ranch, where dozens of movies and television shows have been filmed over the years. 

Hollywood historian Cari Beauchamp said, “This is an incredible loss that we haven't even begun to put our head around yet."

The picturesque ranch served as the location for shows such as "M-A-S-H"  "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," and HBO's "Westworld." The only structure that remained standing was the chapel, according to the National Park Service. 

“Those incredible oak trees were hundreds of years old,” Beauchamp said. “Any film made between 1927 and 1953 in which there's a Wells Fargo buggy going by, well, those trees are going to be in the background. My God, you could see how they'd be so attractive, and the chaparral, that loss pains me as much as any set destruction."

The mansion seen on ABC's "The Bachelor" also escaped destruction, but the fire did claim the lower house and other outdoor structures. No filming was taking place at the time, network officials said. 

Several celebrities lost their home, including singers Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, and Neil Young. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West reportedly hired a team of private firefighters to help save their $60 million mansion and neighboring homes. The couple is being praised by their neighbors in the Hidden Hills neighborhood for hiring the people who dug trenches and kept the fire away from their homes according to TMZ. 

Caitlyn Jenner's home in Malibu managed to survive the fire, despite the flames coming very close to her estate. She posted a video to Instagram Sunday saying, "It was devastating out here in Malibu. You can see the hills are just totally scorched." 

Actor Gerard Butler posted a photo of the burned out remains of his home to social media. 

"Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters," Butler wrote. "Thank you LAFD. If you can, support these brave men and women at http://SupportLAFD.org.”

Cyrus tweeted that while she was "completely devastated" at the loss of her house, she considered herself to be one of the lucky ones. 

"My animals and LOVE OF MY LIFE made it out safely & that's all that matters right now. My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong," Cyrus wrote. "I am grateful for all I have left. Sending so much love and gratitude to the firefighters and LA country Sheriff's department!"

Actress Shannen Doherty mourned the loss of her home on Instagram, writing that "It's the place I felt my dad with me. It's gone. Fire has taken it away." 

Camille Grammer, a former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member and ex-wife of actor Kelsey Grammer, posted a photo to Instagram of her home with its roof in flames, while thanking the firefighters. 

“Sadly my house couldn't be saved,” she wrote. “The courageous firefighters were able to save my cars and personal items recovered from my home. I thanked the fire captain and his team of firemen for all of their hard work.”

Stanley the giraffe, who lives at a popular winery in Malibu known for its 'safari' tours, was also reported to be safe. Malibu Wines' management posted a photo of Stanly on Friday, reassuring his 46,000 fans on Instagram that he was safe. 

Photos: Getty Images, Kris Ankarlo, Andrew Mollenbeck, Corbin Carson, Monica Rix


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