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how many lives were lost in the paradise fire

The wildfire that destroyed Paradise, California in 2018 – officially called the Camp Fire – claimed 85 confirmed lives according to the final official death toll.

Quick Scoop: Paradise (Camp) Fire Death Toll

  • The Camp Fire ignited on November 8, 2018, in Butte County, California, and rapidly swept through the town of Paradise and nearby communities.
  • After weeks of search, identification work, and reconciliation of missing-persons lists, authorities set the official death toll at 85 people.
  • Early on, some reports mentioned slightly higher possible numbers (up to 86–88) while searches were still ongoing and some individuals remained missing, but the widely cited final official figure is 85 fatalities.

Context and Impact

  • The fire destroyed more than 18,000 structures and displaced over 50,000 residents, making it one of the most devastating wildfires in modern U.S. history.
  • Detailed reporting projects and memorial efforts have documented the lives of the 85 victims, emphasizing how quickly the fire moved and how little time many people had to escape.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.