29 dead including 2 children, dozens missing from West Coast wildfires; President Trump to visit fire-ravaged California



Wildfires have devastated states on the West Coast; at least 29 people have been killed, dozens of others missing, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes.

The National Interagency Fire Center reports that 97 large fires have burned 4.7 million acres across the western states. Over 29,000 firefighters and support personnel are battling the wildfires, along with 2,200 fire engines and 103 aircraft. There are evacuation orders in place due to 40 large fires in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D) noted that nearly 900,000 acres had burned by Friday. "In the last 10 years, we see an average of 500,000 acres burn in an entire year. We've seen that nearly double in the past three days," Brown said.

Approximately 500,000 in Oregon have evacuated or have been instructed to be prepared to evacuate, which is more than 10% of the state's population.

Oregon's emergency management director, Andrew Phelps, told MSNBC that the state is preparing for a "mass fatality incident" because of the wildfires. "There are going to be a number of fatalities, folks who just couldn't get warning in time and evacuate their homes and get to safety," Phelps said.

Wyatt Tofte, a 12-year-old boy from Lyons, Oregon, and his 71-year-old grandmother Peggy Mosso died while trying to escape the fire. The boy took shelter in the family car, but the flames surrounded him. A family spokeswoman said Wyatt was found by himself in a car, and the family's dog was found dead in his lap.

I've had incredibly heartbreaking conversations today. This is 12-year-old Wyatt Tofte & his grandmother, Peggy Mos… https://t.co/rVHTFVvP6E
— Kandra Kent (@Kandra Kent)1599713329.0


500,000 residents of northwest Oregon have either evacuated or been told to be ready to go, as those in southern Or… https://t.co/7pgMJhZGiE
— NPR (@NPR)1599854543.0


All @ORDeptForestry forestland is currently closed to public entry & use, including the Santiam, Tillamook, Clatsop… https://t.co/AyKNYEQLLE
— Forest Service NW (@Forest Service NW)1599939278.0


Residents evacuated from Molalla, Oregon, as the sky turned crimson from smoke and cinders as wildfires have contin… https://t.co/wVDnn8xO1k
— ABC News (@ABC News)1599880864.0


At least six people have died as wildfires tear through the US west coast.Dozens of fires have raged across Washi… https://t.co/bDPSntdA6O
— Channel 5 News (@Channel 5 News)1599841390.0


A record 3.2 million acres in California have been scorched since last month, and about 4,000 structures have been destroyed. The death toll in California from the wildfires reached 20 on Saturday.

A 16-year-old boy was among those where were killed by the wildfires in California. Josiah Williams died while trying to escape a fast-moving inferno in Berry Creek in Northern California.

"He was alone, terrified, and ran for his life," the boy's mother, Jessica Williams, told KOVR reporter Velena Jones. "My son was a good, smart, caring young boy that died alone, and it kills me thinking about what he was going through."

Cal Fire stated that five of the 20 largest California wildfires in history have occurred in 2020, including the biggest ever, the August Complex Fire. The largest California fire in history is located about a two-hour drive northwest of Sacramento. The August Complex Fire has burned 746,000 acres after merging with other large fires. The blaze is currently 25% contained.

Extreme weather conditions has caused an increase in acreage for the #CreekFire, which has now grown to be the 16th… https://t.co/wcbgYF4hc1
— CAL FIRE (@CAL FIRE)1599846608.0


Fires have been blazing across the western U.S. for the past few months. August and September 2020 saw record-setti… https://t.co/Q33Rds5P3m
— NASA Earth (@NASA Earth)1599849774.0

On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that he would visit fire-ravaged California. The president will travel to McClellan Park in Sacramento County on Monday to be briefed on the catastrophic wildfires.

"Since mid-August, President Trump and Governor Newsom have spoken by phone and the White House and FEMA have remained in constant contact with State and local officials throughout the response to these natural disasters. The President continues to support those who are battling raging wildfires in a locally-executed, state-managed, and federally-supported emergency response," Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.

On Friday, President Trump tweeted about the wildfires obliterating the West Coast.

"THANK YOU to the 28,000+ Firefighters and other First Responders who are battling wildfires across California, Oregon, and Washington," he wrote. "I have approved 37 Stafford Act Declarations, including Fire Management Grants to support their brave work. We are with them all the way!"

THANK YOU to the 28,000+ Firefighters and other First Responders who are battling wildfires across California, Oreg… https://t.co/JglonEB62E
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1599870510.0

Authorities have arrested four people for suspected arson in the historic wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington. Two Oregon men were arrested and accused of looting homes that were forced to evacuate.

California gender-reveal party with pyrotechnic device sparks massive blaze that burns over 7,300 acres



More than 500 firefighters, 60 fire engines, and four helicopters have been deployed to a massive fire in Southern California. The huge inferno, dubbed the El Dorado Fire, was caused by a pyrotechnic device used at a gender-reveal party.

The gender-reveal party was held in El Dorado Ranch Park, and the fire began at 10:23 a.m. Saturday. The couple, and possibly some other friends and family, went to a grassy field at El Dorado Ranch Park, to announce the gender of their baby, Cal Fire Capt. Bennett Milloy told KTVU. They used a cylindrical device to send up either pink or blue smoke, and reveal the sex, he said. But the spectacle created a fire, which the couple tried to douse with their own water bottles, he said.

The blaze quickly spread from the park to Yucaipa Ridge, which separates Mountain Home Village, and Forest Falls from Yucaipa. As of Monday morning, the massive inferno had burned 7,386 acres and was only 7% was contained, according to San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.

"CAL FIRE Law Enforcement has determined the El Dorado Fire, burning near Oak Glen in San Bernardino County, was caused by a smoke generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender reveal party," the agency stated.

"Those responsible for starting fires due to negligence or illegal activity can be held financially responsible and criminally responsible," Cal Fire said.

CAL Fire investigators believe a family taking gender reveal photos at a Yucaipa-area park with pyrotechnics sparke… https://t.co/pKcoJQB9uv
— Kara Finnstrom (@Kara Finnstrom)1599490358.0

Four towns in San Bernardino County — Oak Glen, Yucaipa Ridge, Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls — were under evacuation orders because of the El Dorado Fire. About 21,000 residents have been evacuated. Several homes have been destroyed, according to KCAL-TV.

Timelapse of the #ElDoradoFire from this afternoon near North Bench Yucaipa. @SanBernardinoNF @CALFIREBDU https://t.co/uHOmlnkdID
— SB County Fire (@SB County Fire)1599440417.0



The El Dorado Fire is one of three major wildfires currently smoldering in California, along with the Creek Fire and Valley Fire.

The state has recently become a tinderbox because of extremely high temperatures into the 100s, extremely dry conditions, and fast winds that can spread fires quickly.

"Cal Fire reminds the public that with the dry conditions and critical fire weather, it doesn't take much to start a wildfire," the agency said.

Several new fire in California today. The #CreekFire in Fresno County. #ValleyFire in San Diego County.… https://t.co/kkE9Zua7Ql
— Drew Tuma (@Drew Tuma)1599351394.0

Creek Fire in Fresno County and Madera County has charred 73,278 acres, and threatens more communities as well as recreation areas like Shaver and Bass lakes, and Yosemite National Park. The fire has destroyed 25 homes, and at least 850 structures are seriously threatened. Cal Fire said that 0% of the blaze was contained.


Jeremy Remington is one of 207 people that was trapped and rescued from Mammoth Pool. He got to Fresno sometime aft… https://t.co/8RcmWTqCEY
— Dennis Valera (@Dennis Valera)1599407506.0


@wxbrad I took this today from our Southwest flight from San Jose to Las Vegas https://t.co/QfWYTr6sh7
— Thalia Dockery (@Thalia Dockery)1599364216.0

The Valley Fire prompted the San Diego County Sheriff's Department to issue a voluntary evacuation order. The wildfire has burned 10,258 acres and is only 1% contained. The San Diego County Fire Department requested military aircraft from the Navy Third Fleet and the First Marine Expeditionary Force to battle the blaze.

Smoke from the #ValleyFire towers over San Diego County @10News https://t.co/hNDrhouYsF
— Jennifer Delacruz (@Jennifer Delacruz)1599457471.0


#valleyfire 09/07/20 Information map for the Valley Fire https://t.co/GD9WEeT2CG
— Cleveland NF (@Cleveland NF)1599491860.0

Due to the wildfires, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency for five counties on Sunday: Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Bernardino, and San Diego County.

"Governor Newsom has declared a statewide emergency due to the widespread fires and extreme weather conditions, and secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the state's emergency response to the Northern California wildfires," the governor's office said in a statement.

Governor @GavinNewsom issued an emergency proclamation for the counties of Fresno, Madera and Mariposa due to the… https://t.co/6vlAS2CBBt
— Office of the Governor of California (@Office of the Governor of California)1599447371.0