The deadly Camp fire that destroyed the Northern California town of Paradise this month overwhelmed emergency alert and evacuation plans, leaving many residents in harm’s way without sufficient warning, state officials acknowledged Tuesday at a legislative hearing.
Because the Paradise area, where officials say at least 88 people died in the blaze, was known for being prone to wildfires, it has been the subject of extensive planning for warnings and evacuations, said Thom Porter, chief of strategic planning for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. But he said the unusual speed of the Camp fire hindered an adequate evacuation. “They are areas where we have had bad fires,” Porter said. “We know there are road system issues.”
The Camp fire, he said, “outstripped our planning efforts in sheer time.”