Nine people were reportedly missing as a monster wildfire in northern California burned unchecked on Saturday after it killed two fire-fighters, destroyed hundreds of structures and sent thousands of frantic residents racing from their homes.
Some 3,400 fire-fighters on the ground and in helicopters and airplanes battled the 48,300-acre Carr Fire early on Saturday as it ripped through Redding, a city of 90,000 people, in California’s scenic Shasta-Trinity area.
The fire, which was just 3% contained after igniting six days ago, has been fed by high temperatures and low humidity, which were expected to continue for at a week, said CalFire Director Ken Pimlott.