California wildfires: Camp Fire kills 42 to become deadliest in state history as Trump approves major disaster declaration
Fires across state have killed 44 in total with hundreds still missing
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Your support makes all the difference.The total death toll from wildfires across California has risen to 44, after 13 more people were found dead in what is now the deadliest single fire in state history.
The blaze dubbed Camp Fire in northern California has incinerated more than 7,100 homes and businesses - particularly in the town of Paradise. Its death toll exceeds that of the Griffith Park Fire in 1933, the deadliest wildfire on record in California. At least 228 people were still missing, according to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.
Speaking on CNN, Mr Honea said that while he holds out hope that many people listed as missing will turn up safe, “given what we’ve dealt with so far with casualties as a result of this fire, I have concerns that it [the death toll] will rise”.
Late on Monday, President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for the state, which will allow it to access more federal funds. Mr Trump said he "wanted to respond quickly", although calls for the declaration have been coming for a number of days.
Hundreds of thousands of evacuation orders have been issued, while countless residents have shared images online of missing loved ones, begging people to help them find displaced relatives and friends.
In southern California, the Woolsey Fire has scorched at least 91,000 acres and destroyed 370 structures. At least two people have died in that fire, and more than 57,000 buildings still at risk.
You can find our latest report on the California wildfires here. For more on how the events of Monday unfolded, please see our now-closed live blog, below.
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A new spot fire was reported on Monday afternoon in Malibu Canyon.
President Donald Trump says he has approved an "expedited" major disaster declaration for California over the deadly wildfires burning at both ends of the state.
Mr Trump tweeted Monday night that he "wanted to respond quickly in order to alleviate some of the incredible suffering going on."
Democratic Governor Jerry Brown had requested the declaration, which would make victims eligible for crisis counseling, housing and unemployment help, and legal aid.
Butte County police say there have been more than 1,500 calls about unaccounted people in relation to the Camp Fire. Police have able to locate more than 230 people by Monday evening.
The death toll in the Camp Fire in northern California is now 42 - making it the deadliest single wildfire in the state's history.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said 13 people were found dead since Sunday evening. Of those, 10 were found in Paradise and three were found in Concow.
Two more have been killed so far by the Woolsey Fire in southern California, bringing the total death toll from the wires to at least 44.
Officials with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area say eight mountain lions are alive and moving based on GPS collars, apparently surviving the wildfires.
But the fate of five others — P-22, P-42, P-47, P-54 and P-74— remains unclear, although officials say it is too early to be worried.
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