US: Death toll in California wildfires rises to 31

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - At least 31 people have been killed so far in two wildfires burning across the state of California, leaving behind trails of destruction and scorching the homes of thousands.

In northern California, the Camp Fire has killed 29 people, becoming one of the most deadly fires in the state's history. The fire has already become the most destructive, leaving over 6,400 structures in rubble and burning 110,000 acres of land.

The Woolsey Fire in southern California added to the state's death toll, killing two as it tore through the affluent neighborhoods of Malibu. The fire has burned through over 85,000 acres, and along with the nearby Hill Fire it has prompted the evacuation of reportedly 250,000 people.

State of emergencies were declared in Butte County from the Camp Fire, and in Los Angeles and Ventura County from the Hill and Woolsey Fire.

The White House issued an emergency declaration for the state, saying the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will coordinate on all disaster relief efforts.

However, California Governor Jerry Brown requested a major disaster declaration from U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for the federal government to allocate more funds to California for disaster relief as well as the rebuilding process.

"This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal," Brown said at a news conference. "And unfortunately, the best science is telling us that dryness, warmth, drought, all those things, they’re going to intensify."

The remarks were in response to Trump, who tweeted saying that the fires were being grossly mismanaged by California.

"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!" Trump said.

Red Flad Warnings, the highest level fire alert, were issued by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) across the entire state stretching from the northern border with Oregon and the southern border with Mexico.

The fire season in California usually runs from mid-summer and lasts until around the middle of October, however experts now say they may now be expected year round.