Death toll rises to 56 in California wildfires

The death toll from the wildfires burning in Northern and Southern California has risen to 56 people, authorities announced, making it the deadliest wildfire in a century.

An additional 287 people have been assigned to comb through the rubble for bodies, authorities told The AP, bringing the number of rescuers and searches to over 461.

There have been 22 cadaver dogs brought in to aid in searching for the dead.

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Police confirmed to the news agency that at least 130 people are still unaccounted for, many of whom are elderly.

More than 8,500 homes have been lost.

Gov. Jerry Brown (D-Calif.) on Wednesday spoke with President TrumpDonald John TrumpMeet the lawyer Democrats call when it's recount time Avenatti denies domestic violence allegations: 'I have never struck a woman' Trump names handbag designer as ambassador to South Africa MORE, who pledged federal assistance with the fires. It was a shift in tone from the two he exchanged barbs just days earlier over who was to blame for the fires.

"This is so devastating that I don't really have the words to describe it," Brown said.

Interior Secretary Ryan ZinkeRyan Keith ZinkeOvernight Energy: House Dems at odds over how to handle climate change | Trump shows support to California over wildfires | Zinke calls fires worse than Iraq war zones Zinke: California wildfire destruction 'worse than any war zone I saw in Iraq' Trump offers support to California governor amid feud over wildfires MORE told reporters on Wednesday, "Now is not the time to point fingers. There are lots of reasons these catastrophic fires are happening," he said, pointing to warmer temperatures, dead trees and poor forest management."

Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has said that it is going to take years to rebuild after the destruction.

“The infrastructure is basically a total rebuild at this point,” Long said. 

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https://thehill.com/homenews/news/416855-56-now-reported-dead-in-california-wildfires

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