Carr Fire, Cranston Fire and beyond: Photos from the wildfires across California

The so-called Carr Fire, about 150 miles north of Sacramento, has grown to almost 150 square miles and is only 17 percent contained.

In the past year, neighborhoods in the northern California wine country city of Santa Rosa and the southern California beach city of Ventura have been devastated. Crews have repaired some gas lines, but utility officials said the return of service for all residents will be slow.

“In California, persistent heat and dryness increased fire danger”, wrote the U.S. Drought Monitor on July 24, the day after the Carr fire began.

Following a loss-heavy 2017, the insurance, reinsurance and ILS fund sector will be closely watching the developments and in particular the Carr fire which is already considered one of the most destructive wildfires on record. More than 52,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate and more than 12,000 firefighters are battling the fires. Daniel Potter, a spokesperson with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said firefighters were aiming to protect buildings on the eastern and southeastern edges of the fire. “I don’t know why, but it just didn’t torch off”. A firefighter hose was left behind, presumably which was used in trying to stop the blaze, but it got too hot and was just too much.

Derick Hughes II did not heed the order and remained behind at his property in Nice, Calif., where he ran sprinklers on his roof and removed yard plants that could catch fire.

“I think I’m still in shock”, Noland said.

Three members of one family have become a heartbreaking symbol of what this fire can do.

The two blazes have destroyed six homes and are threatening 10,000 others. They perished when flames swallowed their home in Redding. Police said they do not believe the homeowners placed the items like that before evacuating.

The erratic flames are blamed for six deaths, including 70-year-old Melody Bledsoe and her great-grandchildren, 4-year-old Emily Roberts and 5-year-old James Roberts.

“What we’re seeing here is an incomplete burn situation”, Capt. Doug Miles said as his crew used picks, shovels and rakes to open up piles that just days ago were family homes. “The fire’s coming up the hill, ‘” husband Ed Bledsoe told CBS News correspondent Carter Evans. When he tried to return, the road was blocked and flames prevented him from returning on foot.

“With a heavy heart we are sad to inform you all that Mel and the great grand babies were confirmed to be in the home”, the family said on a GoFundMe page.

“We have seen really extremely explosive fire behavior on this particular fire, but it’s not unique anymore to what we are seeing on fires in California”, Cal Fire’s Anthony said. Come on grandpa, ‘ Bledsoe said, his voice choking.

The drawback of the automated calling system is that it is created to dial landlines, but cellphone users must register their phones if they are to receive alerts, she said.

“She was hovered over them both with a wet blanket”.

He couldn’t get there in time to save them.

The hardest thing to accept, he says, is not to have been there.

“Nothing. Absolutely not a word”, he said.

“We’re feeling a lot more optimistic.as we’re starting to make up some ground instead of being on the defensive”, he told reporters. I would’ve been with them.

“I talked to them until the fire got them”, he was quoted as saying. “They’re that important to me”.

The sixth victim, who was not identified, did not evacuate despite receiving an evacuation warning, Bosenko said.

Jacque Chase, an urban planning expert at California State University Chico, said US government statistics show more homes are going up across the country in areas that sit on the boundary of urban areas and undeveloped land.

Looting has been reported in abandoned residences in Redding, and some arrests have been made, according to Police Chief Moore.