Rescuers work among debris after the wildfire in Paradise, California, the United States, on Nov. 13, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
by Xinhua writer Gao Shan
PARADISE, the United States, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Burnt-out cars were scattered across the road, charred trees remained standing amid ruins, almost every building in sight was scorched and blackened, and the air smelled of pungent smoke and embers over the Northern Californian town of Paradise, which has been razed by a massive wildfire.
Dressed in white Hazmat suits and carrying long metal poles or shovels, a team of firefighters, sheriffs and volunteers combed through the ruins in the center of Paradise on Tuesday.
Bruce Wilkerson, an experienced search and rescue expert and the team captain, sifted through mounds of collapsed roofs, the wreckage of vehicles, and dilapidated buildings.
Sometimes, working in tandem, the team strained to lift heavy fallen beams or metal sidings to check the underneath for signs of life. It's one of the dozens of search and rescue teams working in the area, looking for the dozens of people still on the missing list or the remains of victims of the wildfire.
Dubbed the "Camp Fire", the wildfire is now recorded as the deadliest and most destructive one in the history of the western U.S. state of California, after claiming at least 56 lives and destroying more than 10,300 buildings.
Local authorities said more than 200 people were still unaccounted for to date and released the names of 103 missing people on a partial list. Officials said the index will be updated regularly.
"They said that there might be one person missing in this place, so we're just kind of doing an overall search," said Wilkerson, adding that search dogs will run through the place later.
"It's horrible. The town looks like a war-torn area," said Wilkerson.
The team searched 30 locations Tuesday. "We are just going down the list of missing. It's tough work," explained Wilkerson.
"We check, make sure they are not here. Hopefully, they are somewhere," he told Xinhua.
The town of Paradise boasts a prominent history and innate beauty, and around 25 percent of its 27,000 residents are aged 65 or older.
"We came here to help as much as we can," he said, adding that more of his team will come to join him in the coming days.
As more bodies were discovered Tuesday in the town, the death toll has risen to 56 now.
Scott Margina, a firefighter for Cal Fire, said at the scene that they will work eight hours a day as rescue efforts continue.
Officials said that after thousands of people were forced to leave their homes by the flames, the snail's pace of travel of residents seeking to escape ahead of the fire is one of the reasons behind the tragedy.
"Because the fire moved so fast, people couldn't get out on time," Margina told Xinhua.
The narrow mountainous evacuation route, choked with cars, was rapidly surrounded by flames just a few hours after the wildfire erupted Thursday. Some residents, unable to drive out, had to abandon their vehicles by the roadside and walk to safety.
"When thousands of people all were trying to get out at once, you can imagine the traffic jam," said Margina.
Officials said that local residents may come back after the search and rescue work is done, but acknowledged it could be a long process.
"I don't think they can come back for a while. It could be weeks," said Wilkerson.
The blaze is still roaring on the hills around Paradise and has scorched 130,000 acres (526.1 square km), with only 35 percent contained.
"Houses are on fire both sides. Everything is exploding in the fire. I drove over burning woods. I couldn't see anything when I was driving because of black smoke," recalled Cynthia Rowe, a survivor of the wildfire.
"I expect to go back home as soon as possible," said Rowe, noting her dog might still stay at home.