California state officials held their daily press briefing on the devastating wildfires. The key facts presented during the press conference are listed below the video. Click on video below to play.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc35iwB1l-o[/embedyt]
If you’re unable to see the video above, click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc35iwB1l-o
Quick Facts & Figures
Director Mark Ghilarducci, Cal OES
- California has reached across state lines and receiving mutual aid from Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and Arizona
- 640 law enforcement officers
- 8,000 firefighters
- 650 fire engines
- 4,800 people in evacuation shelters
- 42 shelters opened statewide
- 2,000 special needs cots and other services
- 40,000 meals served
- 60,000 liters of water
- 77 cell towers damaged; 64 have been restored
Chief Ken Pimlott, Director of CAL FIRE
- 21 active large fires
- 191,437 acres burned in these fires
- 26 fatalities confirmed through local law enforcement officials (coroners)
- Wind Complex Fire (Nevada, Yuba, Butte counties): Cascade Fire – 45% contained; McCourtney Fire – 89% contained – very good news as some of those resources can be redeployed to other fires
- Sulphur Fire – 45% contained
- Atlas Fire – 43,762 acres, 3% contained
- Tubbs Fire 34,270 acres – and 10% contained
- Dry humidity, windy conditions through weekend
- Additional resources and mutual aid have been requested and enroute
- Active investigations on cause of fires
Warren Stanley, Acting Commissioner, California Highway Patrol (CHP)
- 300 CHP personnel assigned to fires
- Assisted Sonoma County Sheriff with evacuations last night
- Deployed 100 officers from Sacramento, Coastal, Central Valley and Bay Area to knock on 7,000 doors to evacuate residents
- Relocated Sonoma Developmental Center patients and staff from middle school to Dixon fairgrounds
David Baldwin, Adjutant General, California National Guard
- More than 1,600 California National Guard personnel deployed
- Deployed 500-person infantry from Southern California; some flew into Moffett Field last night, while others are transporting via truck and bus today
- 27 CNG and Nevada National Guard aircraft supporting via firefighting, damage assessment, fire mapping and transportation
- Other missions include: aerial firefighting, shelter support, providing tents, evacuation support, fuel for first responders, security, damage assessment and communication support