Thousands of people forced to flee their homes were allowed to return Thursday after firefighters made progress in their effort to put out massive and deadly wildfires in Northern California. Officials were working on plans to repopulate other evacuated areas.
Cooler weather and higher humidity, along with an influx of equipment and firefighters, continued to help hard-pressed crews fighting some of the largest fires in recent state history, burning in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.
The fires have claimed seven lives and destroyed 1,800 buildings, according to Cal Fire. In the Santa Cruz area, officials asked anyone with information on the whereabouts of Shane Smith, 21, and Micah Szoke, 37, to call the sheriff's department. Both men live in evacuation zones and were reported missing.
Firefighters and utility workers were clearing areas for returning residents after crews increased containment lines -- the creation of fire breaks to prevent wildfires from spreading more -- of the massive cluster of fires north of San Francisco to about 33%. That fire, the site of five of the deaths, still threatened 30,500 homes and other buildings after destroying more than 1,000.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Thousands may return home as crews make progress in fight against California wildfiresCooler weather and higher humidity, along with an influx of equipment and firefighters, continued to help hard-pressed crews fighting some of the largest fires in recent state history
Read more »
SIU says there are no grounds to charge Toronto officers in connection with Regis Korchinski-Paquet’s deathKorchinski-Paquet died after falling from a balcony at her Toronto home in May
Read more »
Still trying to learn how 'dead' woman was found alive at Detroit funeral home: fire chiefA suburban Detroit fire chief said Wednesday that he still can't explain why a 20-year-old woman declared dead at her home was discovered alive hours later at a funeral home.
Read more »
Mali’s deposed president returns home after being detained by military juntaIbrahim Boubacar Keita was detained by the military on Aug. 18 when a group of officers arrested him and took him to Kati
Read more »