Rain Halts Work For Some Searchers After Camp Fire For Fear Of Falling Trees
High winds and heavy rains are temporarily halting the work of some teams searching for remains in the aftermath of a deadly Northern California wildfire.
The Butte County Sheriff's Office says more than 800 people are searching the soaked rubble for human remains. It says 563 people are still unaccounted for.
A rescue worker uses a cadaver dog to search for human remains at a mobile home park that was destroyed by the Camp Fire on November 14, 2018 in Paradise, California. (Photo by Getty Images)
A search and rescue crew member searches for human remains at a mobile home park that was destroyed by the Camp Fire on November 21, 2018 in Paradise, California. (Photo by Getty Images)
Team leader Craig Covey said Friday that searchers in the town of Paradise and two nearby communities weren't instructed to stop but he's choosing to take a break for safety reasons.
He says rain and wind are knocking over trees, raising the risk they could fall on search personnel. Covey says they'll resume looking for remains once the rain clears later Friday.
He and his team are finding other ways to help, including bringing lunch to those who stayed in their homes to fight the flames.
The Camp Fire has killed at least 84 people and destroyed nearly 14,000 homes since igniting Nov. 8. Officials in California say rain has helped nearly extinguish the nation's deadliest wildfire in the past century.
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