Nearly 900 structures burned in Redding wildfire
REDDING, Calif. (AP) - Fire officials say crews have stopped some of the growth of a Northern California blaze that has killed six people and destroyed nearly 900 structures.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Incident Commander Bret Gouvea said Sunday firefighters were gaining some ground on the blaze, as opposed to being strictly in a defensive posture.
The Carr Fire exploded on Thursday and took out neighborhoods in Redding, a city about 230 miles north of San Francisco.
Gouvea said the fire is not moving nearly as fast as it did earlier. He said he is optimistic and expected containment numbers to increase. The fire has chewed through nearly 150 square miles and is 17 percent contained.
Sheriff's officials, meanwhile, said Sunday they found the remains of a sixth victim.
Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko said Sunday that the remains were found within the boundary of the Carr Fire.
He said the victim, who was not identified, didn't evacuate despite receiving an evacuation warning.
Bosenko said the sheriff's department has seven outstanding missing persons reports.
The fire has also claimed the lives of two firefighters and two children and their great-grandmother.
Don Ray Smith was a bulldozer operator who was helping clear vegetation in the path of the wildfire when he died. Redding Fire Inspector Jeremy Stoke was also killed, though no details were provided.
The other three victims -- 70-year-old Melody Bledsoe and her two great-grandchildren, 5-year-old James Roberts and 4-year-old Emily Roberts -- died when walls of flames swept through the family's rural property on the outskirts of Redding.