Thread by @Sarah_Stierch

I am going to live tweet the CAL FIRE #NorthComplex #NorthComplexFIre #BearFire #NorthComplexWestZone Facebook 😑 press conference. Follow this thread. 👇 #CaliforniaFires

Damage inspection teams are currently collecting data on damaged, destroyed and non-damaged properties. You can find the information here: tinyurl.com/NCStructureRep… Updated daily. #NorthComplex #NorthComplexFIre #BearFire #NorthComplexWestZone

#NorthComplex #NorthComplexFIre #BearFire #NorthComplexWestZone
24 damaged residences
376 destroyed residences
4 damaged commercial structures
45 destroyed commercial structures
17 damaged other structures
187 destroyed other structures

#NorthComplex #NorthComplexFIre #BearFire #NorthComplexWestZone is now over 76,000 acres.

We have NO predicted weather in the next 72 hours that will cause the fire to impact Concow or Paradise areas. Meaning spread N and NW of Jarbo Gap & 70 will be OK.

Big Bend/Yankee Hill - very hard because of steep and rugged terrain. Connected fire edge lines down to north end of Big Bend. Lots of work to strengthen control lines & mop up

Yankee Hill - will be a little bit longer before we say the fire won’t spread due to fire history and weather.

Cherokee evacuation order remains due to amount of work in Bloomer Ravine. Activity from rolling materials today. Ravine continues to be challenging. We have seen spot fires jumping from Bloomer to Cherokee in past, so we need to make sure it’s OK before it’s able to reopen.

Stringtown is holding really well. S fork of Feather River/Lake looking great. Ponderosa reservoir looking good.

Lost Creek and S. Fork of Feather River - we’ve had problems today. Smoke cleared out so we now have air support dropping fire retardant and helicopter w/water. 2 hours of work will really help.

We escaped red flag winds due to warmer body of air about 4000 feet+ above the fire. Air quality will continue to suck for a few more days.

They're launching weather balloons to learn more about Butte Co. fire weather.

Fire behavior is looking "fantastic"= it's behaving itself!! Even the southern end where there were challenges is looking ok. We are not expecting major growth in West Zone but warm/dry air means there is always potential for change.

Superintendent of Butte Co school is speaking now. Berry Creek Elementary school - she's crying, this is hard to watch - school site is a total loss. "We recognizes that for the residents...it was the hub of the community."

Feather Creek Elementary has also been destroyed.

A temporary district headquarter is being set up right now and distance learning and support will be available.

School employees please check in with their supervisors when you can. All educators please check in with your students. Please report back to school/district.

Many students and school staff have lost homes and are displaced. They are being reached out too. Schools that are open are serving meals and groceries - summer meals program continues for ALL children 18 & younger. Go to bcoe.org has details.

Superintendent says that there is "hope and help" during this difficult time even though everyone is traumatized from COVID and fire.
Call 530-487-4418 for support.

Director of Dept of Employment & SOcial Services now up - she's also the care/shelter chief at OES

Non-congregate sheltering being provided to 925 Butte Co residents with support from Red Cross & State

If you are evacuated or in non-congregate shelter call the county hotline - 24 hours 7 days a week - 530-552-6150 for assistance. You can also email [e-mail]

Questions and info about sheltering and evacuations.

If you are evacuated or you lost your home you can (1) Go to Fairgrounds; (2) Call hotline; or (3) Email above - you will get support with finding a place to stay and secure resources you need to be OK now and after the fire.

Animal shelters - Currently 20 evacuation teams and 2 vets who are working in the area and provided over 4k pounds to animals in the burn area. Two shelters - Old County Hospital has 268 small animals (at capacity) & 521 Cal Oak Rd (open) - currently has 16 small.

Camelot Equestrian Park animal shelter is caring for 220 large animals - goats, llamas, pigs, chickens, etc. Still open.

Here comes @ButteSheriff!!
Evacuation map - searchable by address - tinyurl.com/ButteCoEvacs20

Sheriff - We cannot tell you when highest impacted areas of Feather Falls, Berry Creek etc will reopen - it will take a considerable amount of time due to downed lines, smoldering/spot fires, etc.

Sheriff is launching call center - TBA - people will be able to call and you can get a law enforcement escort to visit your property. Hoping it will launch next week.

Alameda Sheriff is using a drone to put together video of fire area and will be available to public - will show what is damaged/destroyed. Like Camp Fire. Will be public. TBA.

Sheriff - 2 additional arrests (total of 8). Sean from Cherokee was driving an off road vehicle in the evacuation area. He had a stolen vehicle at his house.

Genevieve of Magalia was arrested, she was driving around evacuated Cherokee, claimed she lived there. She was trying to get to an illegal marijuana grow to water it. Arrested for illegal entry on top of the grow charge.

Sheriff - 182 calls for missing people or welfare checks. Located 165 of those people. Only now looking for 2. Good leads. Down from 7 last night.

Recovered remains of 1 additional victim - total number now is 15 people killed in fire.

4 more people identified - John & Sandra Butler who died near their property in Berry Creek. Called relatives saying they were going to shelter at a pond.

Jorge Juarez, 26, Berry Creek. He was found at his home.

Three people found at one property - Philip Ruble (sp), 68; Millicent Catarancuic, 77, and one additional victim. Chose not to evacuated when heard fire was 51% contained.

Now questions from public and media.
🤔When will FEMA and local assistance center open?
A: Later this week hopefully

🤔How can fire impacted community members vote if we lost our home?
A: Working with County Clerk-Recorder, more soon.

I am an independent journalist who reports about fires. If you find my reporting valuable please consider supporting my work via venmo.com/SarahStierch, $SarahStierch or paypal.me/SarahStierch. Thank you. 🖖

Note, Catarancuic was already identified a few days ago (why there are five names).