The death toll from the Camp Fire in Northern California increased by one Sunday to 77, while the number of people unaccounted for has decreased to 993 people. The blaze was two-thirds contained as of Sunday night after consuming some 150,000 acres.
In Southern California, just outside Los Angeles, the Woolsey Fire was 91 percent contained after burning 96,949 acres and killing three people. Dense smoke from the fires has been smothering parts of the state with what has been described as “the dirtiest air in the world.”
Rain is forecast for mid-week, which could help firefighters but also complicate the challenging search for remains. “It’s a disheartening situation,” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said. “As much as I wish we could get through this before the rains come, I don’t know if that’s possible.” The rain could also trigger mud and rockslides in Southern California.
