A father and daughter were killed, and a mother was severely burned, while escaping one of the five California wildfires that have killed two other people.
Tuesday in the town of Hemet, Ian Matthew Compton and his daughter Mikayla Porter were discovered dead in their vehicle after attempting to flee the Fairview Fire. Tina Compton was severely burned on her face, back, and arms, but she is likely to live.
Tim Chitwood, the brother of Compton’s wife, told NBC LA, “They started driving away, and I believe they had automobile troubles.”
Chitwood stated that a neighbor who is a firefighter rescued his sister from the burning car, but was unable to save the others due to the advancing flames.
‘The firefighter opened the door, and then they took her out and dragged her away,’ he claimed, describing the tragic and dramatic sight. ‘The flames came so close, it devoured the car,’ he added.
The fire broke out in the small town about 80 miles north of Los Angeles on Monday amid triple-digit temperatures.
Wednesday, the fire had consumed 19,377 acres and was barely 5 percent contained.
Ian Compton (left) and his daughter Mikayla Porter (right) perished in the California wildfire that is presently ravaging the Fairview area. Tina, Mikayla’s mother, sustained severe burns while attempting to flee in a car.
Wednesday, California firefighters battled the Mosquito Fire near Michigan Bluff Road in Placer County.
On September 7, plumes of smoke rise as a wildfire nears a residence during the Fairview Fire near Hemet, California in Riverside County.
The origin of the fire was being investigated. According to the Los Angeles Times, Southern California Edison told the California Public Utilities Commission that ‘circuit activity’ happened shortly before the incident was recorded.
It is unknown if this circuit activity was the result of human error or if additional information has yet to surface regarding the nature of the activity.
The Mill Fire in Weed, located 280 miles north of San Francisco, is the second fatal blaze. Authorities are investigating whether a malfunctioning water-spraying system used to cool ash at the Roseburg Forest Products Co. veneer plant led to the hot ash igniting the fire on Friday.
This incident resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of people and the death of two unidentified ladies, ages 66 and 73. 107 structures were destroyed, while 26 more were damaged. At its peak, the fire spanned six square miles and was 65 percent contained as of Wednesday.
Roseburg issued a statement attempting to dissociate itself from the fire, attributing it to ‘third-party supplier’-made equipment.
In addition, a $50 million fund has been established to assist those harmed by the fire and to reconstruct the town.
As the Mill Fire burns on the outskirts of Weed, California, smoke rises into the air. Authorities believe that malfunctioning industrial equipment may have caused the fire.
On September 2, the Mountain Fire burns near the town of Gazelle, California. It spanned more than 18 square miles of Siskiyou County and included 30% of its area.
Two people were killed while attempting to flee the Fairview Fire in the small California town of Hemet.
Roseburg Forest Products stated in a press statement that their mill produces its own power in a co-generation facility fueled by wood scraps, and the ash that is ejected is sprayed with water by a’machine supplied by a third party.’
The report stated that Roseburg is examining whether a third-party machine failed to appropriately cool the ash, igniting the fire.
Roseburg stated that its fund will provide temporary housing, medical supplies and care, transportation, clothing, food and water, and child care services to locals.
Smoke rises from the Weed, California Mill Fire. Authorities are investigating whether a malfunctioning water-spraying system used to cool ash at the Roseburg Forest Products Co. veneer plant led to the hot ash igniting the fire on Friday.
The Weed Mill Fire in California. It is one of five fires presently raging in the state of California.
Firefighter Stephanie Endsley controls the Mosquito Fire in Foresthill, Placer County, California, while it burns.
Smoke hung over ski runs in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles as the Radford Fire consumed forest stands south of the Big Bear Lake resort area.
Since being noticed by a US Forest Service helicopter crew on Monday afternoon, the fire has expanded over a surface area of 1.5 square miles. Only 2% was contained.
In the Sierra Nevada mountains, Placer and El Dorado counties issued evacuation orders and warnings as the day-old Mosquito Fire spread to roughly 6.5 square miles with no containment.
Multiple homes and at least ten vehicles were destroyed by fire at the little Gold Rush settlement of Michigan Bluff.
The historic community of Michigan Bluff is being threatened by the fire.
The Mountain Fire had consumed more than 18 square miles of Siskiyou County and was 30% confined near the Oregon border. It began Sept. 2.
Firefighters douse the flames of the Mosquito Fire near Foresthill, Placer County, California, as it burns.
The Mountain Fire roaring near the California town of Gazelle on September 2 is one of five fires currently raging in the state.
On September 2, massive plumes of smoke rose from the Mill fire on Antelope Mountain in Weed, California.