West Coast wildfires force 500,000 people in Oregon to flee homes

11 September 2020, 08:37 | Updated: 11 September 2020, 11:47

Around 10% of Oregon's population has been evacuated
Around 10% of Oregon's population has been evacuated. Picture: PA

More than half a million people have been forced to flee their homes in the US state of Oregon as dozens of wildfires continue to tear a path across the country's West Coast.

The state, which is home to 4.2 million people, has now had more than 10% of its population evacuated due to the deadly blazes being fanned by hot and dry winds.

Oregon, California and Washington are said to be the three worst-affected areas, where at least 14 people have died.

In Lyons, Oregon, a 12-year-old boy was found dead alongside his dog on Thursday after flames approached his home.

His grandmother was also killed.

Confirming the news on Facebook, family members said they were "devastated" by the events, describing his as someone who was "loved and adored by all his family and friends".

A separate post from his uncle said: "Don't take anything in life for granted and make the best of everyday."

We are devastated to confirm that Wyatt Tofte has not survived. He was found a short while ago. Wyatt was Roger’s...

Posted by Enchanted Forest on Wednesday, 9 September 2020

At least ten people have now died in California alone after seven bodies were discovered in Butte County on Thursday.

Sixteen people are still missing, and thousands of homes have been destroyed.

The North Complex fire, which is burning through Butte County, is the 10th largest on record and is still increasing in size.

Firefighters are currently trying to stop it from reaching the town of Paradise, where the state's most destructive blaze two years ago killed 85 people and destroyed 19,000 buildings.

Also on Thursday, a White House spokesman said Donald Trump had spoken to California Governor Gavin Newsom to "express condolences" to those who had died.

He also wanted to "reiterate the administration's full support to help those on the front lines of the fires."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says