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A scorched vehicle rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. At least five people were confirmed dead Friday morning as the Camp Fire continued to rip through Butte County. The five victims were found in vehicles burned by the blaze in the area of Edgewood Lane, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. The victims were not identified.
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A scorched vehicle rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. At least five people were confirmed dead Friday morning as the Camp Fire continued to rip
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Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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A charred animal rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. At least five people were confirmed dead Friday morning as the Camp Fire continued to rip through Butte County, quadrupling in size overnight to 70,000 acres to leave a path of destruction in the Sierra foothills town 90 miles north of Sacramento.
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A charred animal rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. At least five people were confirmed dead Friday morning as the Camp Fire continued to rip through
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Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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A vintage car rests among debris as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town.
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A vintage car rests among debris as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some
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Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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Sheriffs yell to drivers to evacuate the area off of Pentz Road during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Sheriffs yell to drivers to evacuate the area off of Pentz Road during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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Mic McCrary, 27, sits on a motorized go-cart that he used to rescue his two dogs, pictures, as the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. McCrary stayed in his home with 90-year-old Norma Weldon and her son, Brad, as the fire overtook their entire neighborhood while leaving his home untouched.
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Mic McCrary, 27, sits on a motorized go-cart that he used to rescue his two dogs, pictures, as the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. McCrary stayed in his home
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Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
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Brad Weldon checks on his mother, Norma Weldon, 90, as they stay inside their home after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Weldon stayed in his home with his 90-year-old mother, Norma Weldon, and roommate, Mic McCrary, as the fire overtook their entire neighborhood while leaving his home untouched.
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Brad Weldon checks on his mother, Norma Weldon, 90, as they stay inside their home after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Weldon stayed in his home with his
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Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
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Officer Randy Law tends to a rescued horse as a wildfire burns in Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Officer Randy Law tends to a rescued horse as a wildfire burns in Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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Firefighter Jose Corona sprays water as flames consume from the Camp Fire consume a home in Magalia, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Firefighter Jose Corona sprays water as flames consume from the Camp Fire consume a home in Magalia, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Photo: Noah Berger / Associated Press
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Firefighters work on a controlled burn at a wildfire, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Magalia, Calif.
Firefighters work on a controlled burn at a wildfire, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Magalia, Calif.
Photo: John Locher, AP
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Araya Cipollini cries near the remains of her family's home burned in the Camp Fire, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. The blaze that started Thursday outside the hilly town of Paradise has grown and destroyed more than 6,700 buildings, almost all of them homes, making it California's most destructive wildfire since record-keeping began. But crews have made gains and the fire is partially contained, officials said Saturday.
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Araya Cipollini cries near the remains of her family's home burned in the Camp Fire, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. The blaze that started Thursday outside the hilly town of Paradise has grown
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Photo: John Locher, AP
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Krystin Harvey, left, comforts her daughter Araya Cipollini at the remains of their home burned in the Camp Fire, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. The blaze that started Thursday outside the hilly town of Paradise has grown and destroyed more than 6,700 buildings, almost all of them homes, making it California's most destructive wildfire since record-keeping began. But crews have made gains and the fire is partially contained, officials said Saturday.
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Krystin Harvey, left, comforts her daughter Araya Cipollini at the remains of their home burned in the Camp Fire, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Paradise, Calif. The blaze that started Thursday outside the hilly
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Photo: John Locher, AP
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A firefighter sprays water on a controlled burn at a wildfire, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Magalia, Calif.
A firefighter sprays water on a controlled burn at a wildfire, Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, in Magalia, Calif.
Photo: John Locher, AP
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Brad Weldon looks at a charred U-Haul that was burnt inside a storage unit facility after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.
Brad Weldon looks at a charred U-Haul that was burnt inside a storage unit facility after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.
Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
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Charred mailboxes sit on the ground along Lisa Lane after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.
Charred mailboxes sit on the ground along Lisa Lane after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018.
Photo: Jessica Christian / The Chronicle
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Mic McCrary, 27, shuts the sliding glass door of his home behind him before checking out damage around the neighborhood after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. McCrary stayed in his home with 90-year-old Norma Weldon and her son, Brad, as the fire overtook their entire neighborhood while leaving his home untouched.
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Mic McCrary, 27, shuts the sliding glass door of his home behind him before checking out damage around the neighborhood after the Camp Fire devastated the entire town of Paradise, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 10,
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Photo: Jessica Christian, The Chronicle
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Businesses burn in downtown Paradise during Camp Fire in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Businesses burn in downtown Paradise during Camp Fire in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
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The sun rises above the East Bay hills through a smoky haze in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Air quality in the region remains unhealthy while smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County continues to drift to the south.
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The sun rises above the East Bay hills through a smoky haze in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Air quality in the region remains unhealthy while smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County continues to
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Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
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Dramatic black plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire near Chico.
Dramatic black plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire near Chico.
Photo: Oakland Firefighters Local 55 Facebook Page
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Firefighter Jose Corona monitors a burning home as the Camp Fire burns in Magalia, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Firefighter Jose Corona monitors a burning home as the Camp Fire burns in Magalia, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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The walls of a scorched antique shop stand on Skyway after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
The walls of a scorched antique shop stand on Skyway after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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Abandoned vehicles line Skyway after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Abandoned vehicles line Skyway after a wildfire burned through Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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Officer Randy Law tends to a rescued horse rescued as a wildfire burns in Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Officer Randy Law tends to a rescued horse rescued as a wildfire burns in Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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A partially burned flag flies during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
A partially burned flag flies during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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Smoke billows out from a house during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Smoke billows out from a house during the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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A hotshot firefighter watches as the Camp Fire burns off of Pentz Road in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
A hotshot firefighter watches as the Camp Fire burns off of Pentz Road in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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Fire trucks stage on Highway 191 during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Fire trucks stage on Highway 191 during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
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The Safeway grocery store was gutted during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
The Safeway grocery store was gutted during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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The Camp Fire burns off of Pentz Road in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
The Camp Fire burns off of Pentz Road in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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Cases of beer inside gutted Safeway grocery store during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Cases of beer inside gutted Safeway grocery store during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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A scorched vehicle rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town and destroyed hundreds of structures.
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A scorched vehicle rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some
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Photo: Noah Berger/AP
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A hotshot crewmember watches as the Camp Fire burns off of Pentz Road in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
A hotshot crewmember watches as the Camp Fire burns off of Pentz Road in Paradise, California, on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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First Assembly of God Church was destroyed during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
First Assembly of God Church was destroyed during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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Burned vehicles at a car dealership during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Burned vehicles at a car dealership during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
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Residents of Paradise wait outside the evacuation area during Camp Fire west of Paradise, Calif.. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Residents of Paradise wait outside the evacuation area during Camp Fire west of Paradise, Calif.. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
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Abandoned burned out cars sit in the middle of the road after the Camp Fire moved through the area on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, California. Fueled by high winds and low humidity, the rapidly spreading wildfire has ripped through the town of Paradise, charring 18,000 acres and destroying dozens of homes in a matter of hours. The fire is currently at zero containment.
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Abandoned burned out cars sit in the middle of the road after the Camp Fire moved through the area on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, California. Fueled by high winds and low humidity, the rapidly spreading
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Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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A pick up truck drives on a road during Camp Fire west of Paradise, Calif.. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
A pick up truck drives on a road during Camp Fire west of Paradise, Calif.. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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A pick up truck drives on a road during Camp Fire west of Paradise, Calif.. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
A pick up truck drives on a road during Camp Fire west of Paradise, Calif.. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints burns during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints burns during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town.
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A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets
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Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town.
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A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets
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Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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The Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town.
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The Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned
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Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that forced the evacuation of an entire town.
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A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets
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Photo: Noah Berger, AP
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Vehicles burn during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Vehicles burn during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints burns during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints burns during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints burns during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints burns during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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Businesses burn in downtown Paradise during Camp Fire in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Businesses burn in downtown Paradise during Camp Fire in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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A PG&E worker runs while dealing with downed power lines during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
A PG&E worker runs while dealing with downed power lines during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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A charred wheelchair in Paradise Gardens senior community during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
A charred wheelchair in Paradise Gardens senior community during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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A business burns during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
A business burns during Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Don Thompson)
Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Don Thompson)
Photo: Don Thompson, Associated Press
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The massive plume from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., wafts over the Sacramento Valley as seen from Chico, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Authorities in Northern California have ordered mandatory evacuations in a rural area where the wildfire has grown to 1,000 acres (405 hectares) amid hot and windy weather. (David Little/Chico Enterprise-Record via AP)
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The massive plume from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., wafts over the Sacramento Valley as seen from Chico, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Authorities in Northern
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Photo: David Little, AP
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Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky above the Butte College sig in Oroville, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky above the Butte College sig in Oroville, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Don Thompson, AP
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Twitter user jackieglazerr captured dark plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire filling the sky over Fair Street in Chico.
Twitter user jackieglazerr captured dark plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire filling the sky over Fair Street in Chico.
Photo: Twitter
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Nicole Kowalczyke of Chico stepped outside to look at smoke from the Camp Fire Thursday morning, and a singed piece of paper fell from the sky.
Nicole Kowalczyke of Chico stepped outside to look at smoke from the Camp Fire Thursday morning, and a singed piece of paper fell from the sky.
Photo: Nicole Kowalczyke
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A helicopter flies towards the Camp Fire in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
A helicopter flies towards the Camp Fire in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Don Thompson, AP
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Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky as seen from Highway 99 near Marysville, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Smoke from the Camp Fire, burning in the Feather River Canyon near Paradise, Calif., darkens the sky as seen from Highway 99 near Marysville, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Don Thompson, AP
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Jim and Irene Cooper get out of their vehicle after evacuating from Paradise during Camp Fire in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Jim and Irene Cooper get out of their vehicle after evacuating from Paradise during Camp Fire in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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After evacuating from her home in Paradise, Angie Waltmon wipes away a tear while watching Camp Fire from along Highway 191 in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
After evacuating from her home in Paradise, Angie Waltmon wipes away a tear while watching Camp Fire from along Highway 191 in Butte County, Calif.. on Thursday, November 8, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
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View of the Camp Fire taken by a resident of nearby Chico. Nov. 8, 2018
View of the Camp Fire taken by a resident of nearby Chico. Nov. 8, 2018
Photo: Nicole Kowalczyke
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Napa County residents reported seeing smoke from the Camp Fire north of Sacramento on Nov. 8, 2018.
Napa County residents reported seeing smoke from the Camp Fire north of Sacramento on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Craig Philpott
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Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Twitter
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Twitter user jackieglazerr captured dark plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire filling the sky over Fair Street in Chico.
Twitter user jackieglazerr captured dark plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire filling the sky over Fair Street in Chico.
Photo: Twitter
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Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Cal Fire
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Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.
Evacuations were ordered in Butte County Thursday after a wildfire grew to more than 1,000 acres.
Photo: Twitter / Cal Fire Butte Unit
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Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Jason Halley
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Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Smoke blankets the air over the California State University, Chico, which is 15 miles from the Camp Fire burning near Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2018.
Photo: Jason Halley
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The Skyway, which runs through Paradise, is heavy with haze from the Camp Fire that scorched the Butte County town.
The Skyway, which runs through Paradise, is heavy with haze from the Camp Fire that scorched the Butte County town.
Photo: Photos By Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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Heidi Bigelow (right) and daughter Marina Joy Bigelow, 18, who fled their home in Paradise, are at a shelter in Chico.
Heidi Bigelow (right) and daughter Marina Joy Bigelow, 18, who fled their home in Paradise, are at a shelter in Chico.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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This is what remains of the Safeway store in Paradise. It was gutted when the Camp Fire burned its deadly path through town.
This is what remains of the Safeway store in Paradise. It was gutted when the Camp Fire burned its deadly path through town.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
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A destroyed antique shop is seen off of Skyway after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
A destroyed antique shop is seen off of Skyway after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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A Jack In the Box was destroyed after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
A Jack In the Box was destroyed after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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Destroyed cars are seen off of Skyway after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Destroyed cars are seen off of Skyway after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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A destroyed business is seen off of Skyway after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
A destroyed business is seen off of Skyway after the Camp Fire tore through the town of Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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Evacuee Jonathan Taylor stands on the road to take photos of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. His house and family business are in Paradise and he is concerned they will be gone when he goes back home.
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Evacuee Jonathan Taylor stands on the road to take photos of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. His house and family business are in Paradise and he is concerned they will be gone
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Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
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The remains of the McDonald's on Clark Road after Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
The remains of the McDonald's on Clark Road after Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
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Sam's Liquor store at Clark and Bille Roads after Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Sam's Liquor store at Clark and Bille Roads after Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Friday, November 9, 2018.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
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A scorched vehicle rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. At least five people were confirmed dead Friday morning as the Camp Fire continued to rip through Butte County. The five victims were found in vehicles burned by the blaze in the area of Edgewood Lane, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. The victims were not identified.
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A scorched vehicle rests on a roadside as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. At least five people were confirmed dead Friday morning as the Camp Fire continued to rip
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Photo: Noah Berger, AP
Camp Fire is most destructive wildfire in California history: 9 dead, 6,713 structures incinerated
PARADISE, Butte County — The Camp Fire that devastated this bucolic Butte County town has claimed the lives of at least nine people, grown to 90,000 acres and destroyed more buildings than any other wildfire in California history.
By Friday evening, the fire had incinerated 6,453 homes and 260 commercial buildings in and around Paradise. The blaze was only about 5 percent contained and was threatening another 15,000 structures. Some 52,000 people remained evacuated from various towns. Authorities expect the death toll to increase in the coming days.
Before the Camp Fire, last year’s 36,807-acre Tubbs Fire was the most destructive wildfire in state history for destroying 5,636 structures in Napa and Sonoma counties. Twenty-two people died in that fire.
The nine people killed in the Camp Fire included four victims found in vehicles burned by the blaze in the area of Edgewood Lane, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. Another individual was found outside a vehicle there. Three bodies were found outside homes and one was found inside a home. None of the victims has been identified.
In addition to the lives lost, three firefighters have been injured.
It took less than 48 hours for the Camp Fire to hit historic levels of devastation. The worst of the destruction was in Paradise, a town of 27,000 about 90 miles north of Sacramento that was overwhelmed by flames so quickly that many residents were barely able to grab car keys in their rush to escape.
It was only as the sun came up Friday that the full scope of the damage was exposed.
The burned walls of churches poked through ash. The blackened skeletons of gas stations, fast-food restaurants and supermarkets wobbled amid strong winds. Block after block, entire neighborhoods lay in ruin. Abandoned cars, charred to their frames, lined the two-lane roads in and out of town.
Beneath the smoke-filled sky, sheriff’s deputies continued to search for bodies amid the rubble while residents, scattered across the region at evacuation centers or in the homes of family and friends, wondered how they could possibly recover from such loss.
“I guess there won’t be much of my town left,” said Scott Lotter, a Paradise Town Council member and former mayor. “It’s too soon to tell how much we’ve lost.”
The cause of the fire, which started Thursday morning, remains under investigation, but Pacific Gas and Electric Co. informed regulators Friday that a high-voltage power line near the area experienced a problem prior to the first flames.
Meteorologists were anticipating a lull in the extreme fire conditions Friday night to Saturday afternoon, but the winds were expected to pick up again Saturday and continue through the weekend.
The number of people battling the blaze increased to 3,223 by Friday evening, the 67 fire crews helped by 440 fire engines and 23 helicopters, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. Help was requested from nearby states, including Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming and Washington.
“We are at a pivotal moment,” said Cal Fire Division Chief Todd Derum. “We are trying to take advantage of this moment and make the most progress we can. But the red flag warnings will come. It will kick this fire up, start new fires, or a combination of both.”
Dense smoke blanketed much of Northern California, including the Bay Area, nearly 200 miles away, where air quality was so bad that flights were canceled at San Francisco International Airport and residents were advised to stay indoors.
The blaze “has been an extremely challenging fire and has resulted in significant and catastrophic loss in that community,” said Mark Ghilarducci, director of the state Office of Emergency Services. “We are literally in a statewide red flag weather. We are basically looking at a very significant dangerous weather pattern through the rest of this weekend.”
Named the Camp Fire because of its proximity to Camp Creek Road near Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon, the inferno started at 6:30 a.m. Thursday and quickly barreled through Paradise.
Many of the evacuees had to leave without cell phones or identification, and have had difficulties reconnecting with friends and family. On social media, scores of people have posted photos and last known addresses of missing relatives, many of them older or disabled individuals who may have had a hard time evacuating on their own.
Officials did not not have any immediate numbers on how many people were unaccounted for, though the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said it had 35 official missing person reports. The American Red Cross issued an alert for residents to register as “safe and well” on its website.
“I’m pretty sure my home is burned to the ground,” said Debbie Teter, 53, who was at work at her real estate office Thursday before she hastily evacuated to nearby Chico. “I’m pretty sure I won’t have a job either. My workplace is probably gone and selling property just won’t be happening.
“At my age,” she added, “I don’t want to have to start from scratch.”
The tree-lined houses and familiar shops and businesses that made Paradise a draw for retirees and a magnet for lifelong residents were hardly recognizable after the flames tore through town. Most of the business district along Skyway, the main drag, and the surrounding neighborhoods of single-family homes were burned.
Only the street-side signs of a Burger King and Jack in the Box revealed what the nearby piles of twisted steel and soot had once been. The First Assembly of God church and a Mormon church were charred. The Atria Paradise retirement community was destroyed. A few motels, a muffler shop and a used car lot were among the many other losses.
“The magnitude of the destruction we are seeing is really unbelievable and heartbreaking,” Ghilarducci said. “Our hearts go out to everybody who’s been affected by this.”
Some residents already were talking about rebuilding their tight-knit community. Others, though, were less confident. They’d lost not only homes, but the places where they shopped, got a cup of coffee or met friends for lunch. Many people said they wouldn’t know how to begin to recover what they’d lost.
Donny Veteto, 43, had moved to Paradise only a month ago. The home in which he’d rented a room burned down while he was at work in Chico. He was lucky — he happened to be driving his motor home that day — but he lost everything else.
“I’d like to go back to Paradise, but I don’t know when that will happen,” Veteto said. “Nobody can go back right now.”
Lotter, the former mayor, evacuated with his wife, daughter and son-in-law, along with their pet rabbit and two dogs. As he drove away with his family, flames were just 50 feet from City Hall, Lotter said. It took him nearly two hours to go a half-mile.
He learned on Friday that he’d lost his home to the fire, and found little consolation in news that the movie theater he owns in town survived. He said it was easier to count the number of homes and businesses that were untouched than those that were destroyed.
“If you have a perfectly good business in the middle of a desert, it really doesn’t do you any good,” Lotter said.
Butte County schools were closed Friday and will remain so through Nov. 23, according to the county Office of Education. Officials said they need time to assess the damage to school buildings and determine how best to support families affected by the fire.
November is remarkably late in the fire season for such an intense blaze, fire officials said. And at least two more massive fires were threatening communities in Southern California, including one that forced evacuation of the entire city of Malibu. The late-season wildfires fueled by dry conditions represent California’s new normal, officials said.
“Every day is fire season somewhere in California,” Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott said.
Bob Schofield, 54, has lived in the Paradise area for 26 years and spent 23 of those years as a volunteer firefighter. Among the worst blazes he responded to was the Humboldt Fire in 2008, which burned 23,000 acres in three days, he recalled.
The Camp Fire burned three times that in 24 hours.
“I don’t have much hope that the house is there,” Schofield said Friday from a friend’s house in Marysville, where his family was staying after evacuating Paradise. “If it was there it would be by the grace of God. It was right in the path of the fire.”
Schofield, a music teacher, was at the middle school campus Thursday morning when the district announced it was shutting down all Paradise schools. He turned on a radio to learn more about the fire and heard that his home was in an area being evacuated.
Students whose parents couldn’t get to them quickly enough were put on buses or in teachers’ own cars and taken to a shelter in Chico. Schofield called his wife and 15-year-old son, both at the high school, and told them to meet at their house on Woodglen Drive. They were packing when someone knocked on their door and told them the fire was close.
They left with their three dogs and two rabbits around 9:15 a.m., leaving behind keepsakes such as photos, school awards and Schofield’s collection of nearly 300 fire engine replicas. The first one had been a gift from his grandmother when he was 4.
“You can’t replace the awards or the photos, you can’t replace all of that,” he said. “But we have insurance on everything else.”
Santa Rosa Fire Capt. Jack Thomas, who on Thursday led a strike team against the Camp Fire, couldn’t help but have flashbacks to last year’s deadly Wine Country fires, which flattened entire neighborhoods.
“When I got here, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is exactly what we saw in Santa Rosa,’” he said. “We got churches down, a mobile home park burned and a retirement home halfway involved. It’s really the same situation.”
Chronicle staff writers Lizzie Johnson and Kimberly Veklerov contributed to this report.
Kurtis Alexande, Sarah Ravani and Erin Allday are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com, sravani@sfchronicle.com, eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KurtisAlexander @SarRavani @ErinAllday