After burning for over two weeks, killing dozens and destroying thousands of homes, the Northern California fire has been fully contained authorities confirmed on Sunday. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Camp Fire was able to put under control when firefighters surrounded it after days of rainfall in the Paradise area. A declaration of 100% containment does not mean that the fire is completely put out, but it indicates that firefighters have been able to create a successful containment barrier.
Now considered the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century, the fire killed at least 85 people while 249 continue to be unaccounted for as rescue crews look through debris for human remains. It was on November 8th that the fire began in the Sierra Nevada foothills and within a day it had destroyed most of the town of Paradise. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation according to authorities.
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This news arrives after the devastating Woolsey Fire came to an end in Southern California last week. While not as destructive as the Camp Fire, Woolsey claimed the lives of three people.
California was placed under a public health state of emergency by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar after the fires caused the evacuation of two hospitals and eight other health facilities. Authorities also warn that danger still looms as rainfall after a fire places the area at a high risk for debris flow, flash flooding, and mudslides.