Why So Many Lives Were Lost in the California Camp Fire

The California Camp Fire was heralded as the deadliest, most destructive, and costliest of all wildfires in California history, taking 85 lives and causing injuries in and property destruction to the lives of many. In the beginning days of the Camp Fire, 1,300 names were on a list of those who were missing, and many families faced the reality that they could be burying a loved one by the end of the search.

There are many reasons why so many lives were lost in the Camp Fire. For one, the wildfire was completely unexpected and took place due to the negligence of PG&E, whose equipment failed after not being properly maintained. Today, we will look at the many reasons why individuals were unable to escape the blaze and how we can take better measures in the future.

Gridlocked Issues and Lack of Warnings 

Because of the unexpected blaze, Paradise, CA practically burned to the ground and faced more destruction than any other city. Three or four major roads going out of Paradise were ablaze for quite some time, which meant that gridlock occurred, leaving those trying to flee the town stuck in traffic for several hours, defenseless and unable to go anywhere when the fires came through the city. Especially for those on foot, the conditions were even more dangerous and deadly.

When the fire started blazing, Butte County attempted to utilize a private warning system that would alert residents that danger was looming. However, this was only if residents had taken charge long before the fire and signed up for the service. For those who never signed up, they would never receive the emergency warning and they would miss a chance to get an early start and save themselves and their families. About 30% of all citizens in Butte County were on the list, and the rest were left behind.

For others, the warnings were way too late even when they were sent out. Firefighters took charge to issue an evacuation notice around 7:46 a.m., but this only applied to the eastern zone of the town. An hour later, it was too late for many others who never received the warning. Within two minutes, the first major traffic jam took place and the corridors caught fire, trapping those who were still on the roadways. With the roads only being able to handle approximately 1,200 people in a traffic jam at one time and a total of 27,000 residents trying to flee, you can only guess that this did not go as planned. Cars were stalling in the middle of the road, trapping those behind. Individuals reported their steering wheels starting to melt from the heat of the fire. Emergency services were so overwhelmed helping everyone that they were not able to get enough emergency vehicles to every place that called for them.

With the fires coming through and burning up to 80 football fields in a minute, many people tragically passed away inside their vehicles. Despite all of this, emergency personnel claimed that they were able to save thousands of lives, which were better-than-expected results, given the conditions.

Fire Impact on the Disabled and Elderly

An unsettling trend took place during the Camp Fire for many others who were not able to escape. For those who were disabled and elderly, when the Camp Fire started burning, they were unable to get out in time. Here are just a few of the names of those who were killed in this horrific fire:

• 63-year-old Ernest Foss, who had swollen legs and wasn’t able to walk on his own;
• 65-year-old Vinnie Carota, who was missing a leg and was without a car;
• 83-year-old Evelyn Cline, who was unable to get into a car by himself;
• 93-year-old Dorothy Herrera, living with onset dementia; and
• 86-year-old Louis Hererra, who was unable to drive a vehicle anymore.

It has been reported that, out of the 85 people who lost their lives in the Camp Fire, most of them were elderly or disabled in some way. This means that the wide majority of those who lost their lives did not have the physical strength or presence of mind to get out of their homes by themselves. Some might not have known what was happening around them, while others might have been sleeping when the fires consumed their homes.

When rates were discovered, entities found that over 9,500 residents in the Paradise area had a disability of some kind. This means that 25% of the population in the city was most vulnerable to this serious incident, with many lives being risked at the negligent hands of PG&E. When the fire started to sweep through around 6:30 a.m., homes were beginning to ignite and propane tanks started exploding. Many said that there was no way that one could prepare for what was about to happen to the entire city and beyond, where lives were taken prematurely in a preventable fire.

In another event of ill planning, the county enrolled many individuals in a countywide “Special Needs Awareness Program,” which involved placards that could be put in the windows of disabled people’s homes so that passing police and officials would know that those inside needed help. However, out of 9,500 people living in that area with disabilities or old age, only 300 people knew and signed up for that program. Not only that, but because the fire was so destructive and chaotic, the county did not know if all the individuals with decals were rescued, as emergency responders were working actively all day.

Help for Those Who Have Suffered Losses 

Our attorneys at Brady Law Group understand how difficult it can be to face the reality that you have lost a loved one in the California Camp Fire. Understanding that the fire was preventable and was caused by negligent actions makes you ask questions about how you can move forward with a claim in your time of need. Luckily, our wildfire accident attorneys are here when you need us most. Contact us for more information at (866) 478-6483 to find out what we can do for you.