California Camp Fire

Northern California Camp Fire Contained

CLARE LOMBARDO

Volunteers search for remains at a mobile home park in Paradise, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 23. The Camp Fire destroyed the town. Kathleen Ronayne/AP

After more than two weeks, the Camp Fire of Northern California is 100 percent contained. It was both the deadliest and most destructive fire in California's history.


California fire authorities tweeted the news on Sunday morning.

The Camp Fire has killed at least 85 people since it started on Thursday, Nov. 8. As of Sunday, 271 people remained unaccounted for, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office. Names are gradually coming off that list, as relatives and loved ones contact each other — but many likely won't come off. Search and rescue teams continue their efforts.

Rain hit the area last week, helping to contain the fire, but adding to challenges in recovery efforts. The blaze burned nearly 154,000 acres in Northern California.

According to the latest incident update from California fire authorities, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Nearly 14,000 homes have been destroyed.

"It's like being in a war zone," Chuck Williams, who handles dogs searching for remains in the town of Paradise, Calif., told NPR's Bobby Allyn.

Residents in Southern California received welcome news last week that the Woolsey Fire was contained. That fire killed at least three people.

"We need to ensure we have evacuation routes and that we have other infrastructure that's hardened that can ... be resilient or at least resist this intensity of fires," California Fire Chief Ken Pimlott told NPR's Scott Simon on Weekend Edition.