'Camp Fire' inferno: North California town of Paradise 'wiped out' as thousands flee
Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire on Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that destroyed hundreds of structures. Driven by strong winds and dry conditions, the blaze dubbed the Camp Fire roared through the town of Paradise, about 85 milesnorth of Sacramento, forcing the population to flee in a chaotic mass evacuation. "Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it's that kind of devastation," said Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean late on Thursday. "The wind that was predicted came and just wiped it out." Mr McLean estimated that a couple of thousand structures were destroyed in the town of 27,000 residents about 290 kilometres northeast of San Francisco. The extent of the injuries and specific damage count was not known as officials could not access the dangerous area. Butte County CalFire Chief Darren Read said at a news conference that two
