West Coast wildfires continue to rage: At least 36 people dead, nearly 5 million acres torched; smoke cloud reaches East Coast
Raging wildfires are still wrecking havoc along the West Coast, and now there are almost 90 wildfires in nearly a dozen states, the National Interagency Fire Center reported Tuesday.
So far the fires have burned an estimated 4.8 million acres, with a majority of the damage occurring in California, Oregon, Washington, and now Idaho.
According to the NIFC, firefighters have been able to contain six large fires — one in Montana, two in Oregon, and three in California.
The NIFC said that 11 states are currently reporting a total of 87 large fires:
● Arizona (1)
● California (23)
● Colorado (4)
● Idaho (13)
● Montana (9)
● Nevada (1)
● Oregon (12)
● South Dakota (1)
● Utah (6)
● Washington (15)
● Wyoming (2)
Dozens dead, many more missing
As tens of thousands of people continue to be displaced, the casualty count continues to rise.
According to CNN's latest reporting, at least 36 people have been killed in the West Coast wildfires. Of those killed, 25 were in the California fires, 10 in Oregon, and one in Washington.
The Oregon Office of Emergency Management's website said Tuesday that at least 22 people are missing in the state and at least 1,145 homes have been destroyed.
'Dangerous' smoke — and its spreading
The smoke in the region has led IQAir, a group that tracks global air quality, to report that the West Coast currently has the worst air quality in the world, CNN said.
Virtually all of Washington is covered by "unbelievably irritating, downright unhealthy and dangerous" smoke, Gov. Jay Inslee announced.
And in Oregon, USA Today reported, at least 10% of emergency room visits are for asthma-like symptoms.
Now, the growing smoke cloud has reached the Atlantic Ocean.
AccuWeather meteorologist Matt Benz told USA Today that wildfire smoke has finally traveled thousands of miles and reached the East Coast.
According to USA Today, Benz said "you can draw a line from California through St. Louis and on to Norfolk, Virginia — pretty much everyplace north of that line is looking at smoke-tainted skies."
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted a map showing just how much smoke is currently covering the U.S.
Authorities arrest 2 more suspects on arson charges as West Coast fires rage on
As devastating fires rage across the West Coast, authorities have arrested at least two more people suspected of arson.
Washington troopers arrested Jeffrey Acord, 36, who allegedly attempted to set a fire along SR-167 in Puyallup last Wednesday. An off-duty police sergeant was traveling north on the road when he spotted a Chevrolet pickup truck parked on the shoulder of Route 167. The truck, reportedly driven by Acord, merged back onto the highway as Fife Police Sgt. Kevin approached in his vehicle.
"I soon noticed that there was a small fire starting to grow in the dry grass directly next to the location where the pickup truck had been stopped," Sgt. Kevin said.
Kevin reported the fire and pulled over the truck. When he confronted Acord, the suspect began livestreaming his arrest on Facebook.
"The guy was live streaming (on Facebook) like he found the fire," Trooper Ryan Burke said. "He was trying to make it look like he didn't do it."
The video has since been taken down. Acord was charged with second-degree arson and booked into Puyallup City Jail. He posted bail early the next morning.
Less than two hours after he posted bail, police responded to a break-in at a convenience store three blocks from the police station. Police say they recognized Acord on surveillance video and arrested him again on charges of second-degree burglary for allegedly kicking in a window covered with plywood and stealing drinks and snacks.
In Oregon, deputies arrested 44-year-old Jonathan Maas on suspicion of arson in the first degree. He is accused of attempting to start a fire in the woods near a disc golf course at Dexter State Recreation Area last week.
"The fire was in a wooded area and was approximately 5 feet in diameter before it was extinguished by two people playing frisbee golf in the area," police said. "A man in a minivan was seen leaving the area shortly before the fire was discovered."
The Lane County Sheriff's Office investigated, and Maas was arrested last Thursday.
"While this fire was discovered and extinguished before it grew in size, the potential for the fire to have spread quickly was there," the sheriff's office said. "We are thankful for the community members who spotted and extinguished the fire before it was able to hurt anyone or cause any structure damage."
Last week, authorities arrested four other individuals suspected of starting fires in California, Oregon, and Washington. One suspect, Domingo Lopez Jr., was arrested a second time after allegedly starting six more fires after his initial arrest.
The death toll from dozens of fires burning across the West Coast has reached 35, with fires burning approximately 5 million acres and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
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.
Authorities arrest 4 people on arson charges in deadly and massive California, Oregon, and Washington wildfires
Authorities have arrested at least four people for suspected arson in the massive and still-growing wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington.
What are the details?
According to reports, authorities in those states say that at least four of the fires are considered suspicious.
California authorities arrested suspect Anita Esquivel for allegedly intentionally setting fires along U.S. 101.
She was booked into the Monterey County Jail on arson charges.
Oregon authorities also arrested Michael Jarrod Bakkela, who lived in the woods of Oregon on two counts of arson, 15 counts of criminal mischief, and 14 counts of reckless endangerment.
Oregon Live reports that Bakkela is reportedly responsible for setting one of two major wildfires in the state, which has killed dozens and displaced hundreds.
Oregon State Fire Marshal's office spokesperson Rich Tyler added that the fire Bakkela reportedly set is considered to be one of two origins of the Almeda fire.
Jackson County Sheriff's Office PIO Mike Moran told ABC News that the fire has caused "significant damage."
"There are numerous homes, many of which are burnt completely, some are just heavily damaged, that are part of the 15 counts of criminal mischief," he said.
According to Oregon Live, authorities have told area residents to prepare for a "mass fatality incident" due to the fires.
Washington authorities arrested two unrelated suspects who reportedly set small fires in the brush in two different areas of freeway.
CNN on Thursday reported that the wildfires across the western states torched more than 4 million acres, which is roughly the size of the state of New Jersey.
Anything else?
The FBI on Friday released a statement about reports that "extremists" were responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon.
"FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon," the statement rad. "With our state and local partners, the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue. Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control. Please help our entire community by only sharing validated information from official sources."
Men accused of looting homes in Oregon's wildfire evacuation zone take deputies on crazy chase through golf course
Deputies have arrested two men who they believe were looting homes in Oregon that had been evacuated due to the deadly wildfires on the West Coast.
The Beachie Creek Fire, which is smoldering in Clackamas and Marion Counties south of Portland, has burned 186,856 acres. In Marion County, officials have ordered 13,764 structures to be evacuated because they are at a Level 3 evacuation, which means "evacuate now" because there is current or imminent danger for the area.
Devastating video from Mill City, taken by a @MCSOInTheKnow deputy. A huge section of the Santiam Canyon is under e… https://t.co/qpSvcYlJTa— Hannah Ray Lambert (@Hannah Ray Lambert)1599591398.0
OREGON: a family flees near Detroit Lake. A seriously frightening & fiery experience while also showcasing the brav… https://t.co/9cCAG3FZgl— ELIJAH RIOT (@ELIJAH RIOT)1599631980.0
With so many homes having been evacuated because of the massive fires, two Oregon men apparently tried to capitalize on the devastating natural disaster. Anthony Travis Bodda, 21, and Alexander Justin Jones, 36, were accused by police of looting evacuated homes in Marion County and taking deputies on a wild high-speed chase.
On Thursday, firefighting crews alerted police to a suspicious van in the towns of Detroit and Idahna, and were concerned that the vehicle could be involved with recent looting in the area.
Deputies responded just after 10 a.m. on Thursday, and the van drove off "at a high rate of speed." Deputies from Marion and Linn Counties, as well as Oregon State Police, pursued the van in the Beachie Creek wildfire evacuation zone. The men attempted to ditch police by driving through a golf course.
Police used spike strips to disable the vehicle, then the men jumped out of the van and ran through the golf course. A police dog chased down the suspects. One was attempting to break into a home to escape the cops when he was apprehended. The other man was also tracked down by a K9 unit as he was entering a goat shed, according to police.
Bodda and Jones were both booked at the Marion County Jail and charged with attempted theft in the first degree, burglary in the second degree, felony elude, misdemeanor elude, reckless driving, interfering with a peace officer, possession of a burglary tool, reckless endangering, criminal mischief in the first degree, and criminal trespass in the second degree.
Sheriff officials said several stolen items were found inside the van. Bodda and Jones are also responsible for $1,500 in damage to the golf course, according to Fox News.
"I am disappointed that while in a state of emergency these people would victimize members of our community," Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast said. "The women and men of the Marion County Sheriff's Office are committed to holding people accountable if they chose to victimize residents from our evacuated areas."
He added that his officers would continue to patrol the evacuated areas to prevent any looting.
People in Oregon have said that their homes were looted during the deadly wildfires.
"Everything had been rifled through," said Christy Beaver from Junction City. "Drawers were open. Stuff was all over. Credit cards and checkbooks were missing. We're not sure what else is missing because we haven't been able to go back up there."
Blue River resident Marcie Costa said that she lost her home in the Holiday Farm Fire. Her neighbor's home survived the fire, but possession worth more than $1,000 were stolen, including a generator.
"We've suffered enough these people have suffered enough," Costa said. "We don't need to be victimized anymore from someone who don't give a stuff about us."
"We understand that OSP and the Sheriff's Department are doing the best that they can," Costa said. "But they're spread so thin."
Rumors of widespread looting caused 300 people to attempt to return to their homes inside the fiery evacuation zone. The concerned residents left the Super 8 hotel in Redmond on Thursday to inspect their properties for fire damage and looting.
"All across the region, we are asking folks to please respect those closures," said Kassidy Kern, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service. "Not just for the security of your personal property, but also for firefighters working in the area."
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