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There are an estimated 1000 people that are missing as a result of the ‘Camp’ fire that went through the communities of Paradise and Magalia in Butte County, CA. The fire started before 6:00 am Thursday and was whipped by 49 mph winds that devastated Paradise, CA.

The fire started Thursday morning in the Feather River Canyon near Pulga. The blaze grew quickly, ripping through Paradise by midday and continuing toward Chico. Another branch of the fire pushed east to Highway 99 near Neal Road, another south toward Highway 149 and another north toward Forest Ranch.

“The whole lower side of Paradise is totally engulfed in flames,” evacuee Kevin Winstead told Action News Now reporter Laura Eng. “The Pacifica, Princeton area, Neal Road and the Feather River Hospital all engulfed in flames right now.”

California wildfires leave Paradise ‘destroyed,’ force evacuees to abandon vehicles and run

“Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it’s that kind of devastation,” Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean told the Associated Press late Thursday. He estimated the Camp Fire burned a couple of thousand structures to the ground in the town of 27,000 people, about 180 miles northeast of San Francisco.

“We were surrounded by fire, we were driving through fire on each side of the road,” said police officer Mark Bass, who lives in Paradise and works in neighboring Chico. He evacuated his family and then returned to the fire to help rescue several disabled residents, including a man trying to carry his bedridden wife to safety. “It was just a wall of fire on each side of us, and we could hardly see the road in front of us.”

One less $MCD location (Paradise, CA) #CampFire pic.twitter.com/GVjW5nQN92

— Michael Morrow (@MikeM1927) November 9, 2018

The evacuation of Paradise as the flames engulfed the town was nothing less than a panic as people left their cars and ran on foot. Many cars were engulfed in flames. Many people just made it out of their homes as homes around them were sent up in balls of fire. Emergency personnel were forced to push the cars off the roads being used for the exodus.

“Not one home will be left standing. I am devastated. We just bought a home in Upper Magalia right now, and we’re hoping that our brand-new home that we just get to move into tomorrow is not going to be burned to the ground. We’re kind of all shaking right now. So we grabbed our animals and some food and clothes and we’re getting the heck out of here.”

Actor James Wood joins in for the search of missing people in the Camp Fire.

To all my wonderful followers, I want to thank you for your extraordinary efforts tonight connecting people with lost loved ones in the terrible #CampFire. Your thousands of retweets of invaluable information literally saved lives. God bless you all. #CampFire #CampFireJamesWoods

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) November 9, 2018

James Thanks for your support! We in have a number of people missing who are part of New California State movement in Paradise & Magalia. We’ve been looking since yesterday am. Paul Preston https://t.co/p2DfJJZTyS

— Paul Preston (@a21rpaul) November 9, 2018

UPDATE: An Evacuation Order has been issued for the area of Stirling City and Inskip. Residents are advised to exit up through Butte Meadows and down Hwy 32. #ButteSheriff #CampFire

— Butte County Sheriff (@ButteSheriff) November 9, 2018

Current map of evacuation zones in the City of Chico. Firefighters continue to actively engage the fire in order to protect life and property. Chico PD has alerted residents in the affective areas. #CampFire #ChicoFD pic.twitter.com/RdXQjcTf5e

— Chico Fire Department (@ChicoFD) November 9, 2018

#CampFire On Skyway in Paradise CA. Two spot fires on skyway as of 20 mins ago #CalFire pic.twitter.com/6HbjUBYbEP

— Alan (@AlanIngram02) November 8, 2018