Death toll hits 25 from wildfires at both ends of California

Authorities called in a mobile DNA lab and anthropologists to help identify the dead as the search went on for victims of the most destructive wildfire in California history.

The overall death toll from the outbreak of fires at both ends of the state stood at 25 Sunday and appeared likely to climb.

The worst of the blazes was in Northern California, where flames reduced the town of Paradise, population 27,000, to a smoking ruin days ago and continued to rage in surrounding communities.

The number of people killed in that fire alone, 23, made it the third-deadliest on record in the state.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the county was bringing in more rescue workers and consulted anthropologists from California State University at Chico because in some cases "the only remains we are able to find are bones or bone fragments."
Clark said Sunday that high winds and dry conditions were expected over the next 24 hours: "We're at a pivotal point now. We are still actively in this firefight."