THE cost of California鈥檚 devastating wildfire known as the Camp Fire continues to rise. As New Scientist went to press, there were 79 confirmed deaths, with almost 700 people still unaccounted for.
Authorities say the fire, which has hit the town of Paradise (below) and other parts of Butte County, will probably continue to burn until the end of the month. The first major rainfall in six months is expected this week, which may help to contain the blaze. However, wet conditions bring a threat of mudslides and could also hamper search and rescue efforts.
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This year has seen California鈥檚 most destructive wildfire season on record, with 7579 fires burning 1.7 million acres in total. The long dry spell and record summer temperatures created ideal wildfire conditions.
Due to climate change, such dry conditions are about seven times more likely now than they were at the end of the 19th century, says Patrick Brown at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淒ry summer set the stage for Camp Fire鈥�
