There were perhaps a thousand or so missing. Lack of cell towers etc prevented locating many of the missing, but some 700 have been taken off the list leaving nearly 400 missing. They are finding remains in the ash. Average age of the deceased is around 62, as expected. The elderly could not move fast enough to get out of the fire’s path. They just didn’t have enough time and if they had mobility problems, it just compounded the issue.
I’ve been following a health practitioner for about 10 years, Dr. John McDougall. He’s 70, lives in Santa Rosa, and got out in his pajamas. They managed to grab a computer and phone. One of his children lost her home as well.
I cannot imagine losing everything you have, house, cars, everything, at 70. He’s fortunate to have done well and his business continues, but to lose all of your memories, the little things your children and grandchildren made when they were young, etc., and to have your child lose her home as well, must be awful.
How is it that the fire moved so fast that so many people were unable to leave? The fires have been burning for awhile now - did they change direction or something?