Wildfire scorches Northern California town, damages hospital: 4 updates

Alia Paavola -

Fueled by gusting winds, a fast-moving wildfire with 150-foot flames has scorched nearly everything in its path, damaging a hospital and prompting patient evacuations throughout Northern California.

The Camp Fire began early Nov. 8, ripping through residential areas in Paradise, Calif., and burning nearly 20,000 acres by 11 p.m. the same night, according to Reuters. As of Nov. 12, there have been 29 fatalities, making it the state's deadliest wildfire on record since 1933. It is already California's most destructive fire, leveling 6,713 structures, including 6,400 homes, according to CBS.

"There's pretty much complete devastation — entire streets where houses are wiped out," Lynne Tolmachoff, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told SF Gate. "It's not looking very good at all."

Here are four updates on the Camp Fire's effect on hospitals:

1. Patients evacuated from burning hospital. Adventist Feather River Hospital, a 101-bed acute care hospital in Paradise, caught fire Nov. 8, and patients had to be rescued from the burning hospital, according to CNN. All patients were moved safely from the area.

2. Hospitals accept Adventist patients.Enloe Medical Center, based in Chico, Calif., accepted evacuated patients. As of Nov. 8 at 3:12 p.m., the hospital had 35 patients from Feather River Hospital. Oroville (Calif.) Hospital is also accepting patients from Adventist Feather River Hospital.

3. Service closures. While most Enloe Medical Center facilities remain open, it closed its urgent care location in California Park.

4. Hospital destruction. Feather River Hospital was damaged by the Camp Fire. While initial reports suggested the hospital was completely destroyed, Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter said he believed the old portion of Feather River Hospital had burned down completely, but a newer addition was safe from the blaze, according to Spectrum Magazine.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in our community during this challenging time. Due to the current Camp Fire, Adventist Health Feather River is closed. All patients have been safely evacuated and transported to Oroville Hospital or Enloe Medical Center," a statement from Adventist Health Feather River Hospital reads.

On Nov. 9., a note on the hospital's website said: "Multiple media outlets have reported the destruction of Adventist Health Feather River Medical Center in Paradise. While we did sustain damage to some parts of our property, we are unable to confirm the full extent of that damage at this time. Until it is safe for our team to return to the site, we are unable to confirm any reports."

Editor's Note: This article was updated November 12, 2018 at 10:24 a.m.

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