Valley fire 3rd worst in Calif. history: 3 dead; burned 1,238 homes, 64 businesses, 585 outbuildings

LOCH LOMOND, Calif. - Thousands of firefighters tackling two deadly wildfires in Northern California made significant progress Tuesday, a day after Gov. Jerry Brown announced he was seeking federal aid for victims.

More than 7,500 firefighters worked to increase containment of the Valley and Butte fires as state and federal officials continued to assess the damage, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

“Overnight, firefighters made gains mopping up hot spots and strengthening control lines,” CalFire officials said in a statement. “Today firefighters will continue to construct control lines and repair alterations to the landscape that resulted from earlier suppression operations.”

The Valley fire in Lake, Sonoma and Napa counties and the Butte fire in Amador and Calaveras counties were 75 percent and 80 percent contained, respectively, as of Monday, CalFire said.

The Valley fire, the third most destructive in state history, has charred 76,067 acres, CalFire said. Three people were killed in the blaze, which started Sept. 12 and tore through 1,238 homes, 23 multi-family homes, 64 commercial buildings and 585 sheds and outbuildings, CalFire said.

The 70,868-acre Butte fire wiped out 545 homes and 356 outbuildings. It started Sept. 9 and is the seventh most destructive fire, according to state officials. Two deaths are attributed to the Butte fire, CalFire said.

On Monday, Brown asked President Barack Obama for a national disaster declaration, hoping to open the door for federal assistance.

As the smoke clears and evacuation centers close or relocate, victims and communities hit hard by the fires still have no promise of federal disaster aid.

“Thousands have been made homeless by the fire . five local power plants were disabled. Many essential drinking water systems have been completely destroyed . (and) over 25,000 feet of fiber lines burned, destroying critical infrastructure,” Brown wrote in his request.

Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is expected in California on Tuesday, signaling that an announcement is imminent.

FEMA has awarded California a grant to pay for firefighting efforts, shelters for residents and for manning roadblocks.

The federal agency also created a website to host information for disaster victims in anticipation of California seeking federal aid.

Hundreds of residents displaced by the Valley fire returned to their homes Monday after fire authorities lifted another set of evacuation orders.

In Loch Lomond, a mountain community of about 400 people living at 2,800 feet above sea level in Lake County, residents said they relied on each other to stay safe. Some of them said they failed to receive warnings from authorities about the fire.

On the day the Valley fire broke out, Kevin Sargent sprinted over to his neighbor’s house and helped an 86-year-old woman evacuate.

“Carol was looking for her teeth. I said ’Carol, that’s what’s your obituary’s going to say! Let’s go!’” Sargent said.