Zinke on wildfires: 'Radical' groups would rather burn down forest than thin one tree

John Bacon | USA TODAY

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Tuesday pressed his claim that "radical environmentalists" are to blame for the devastating fires that have raged across California in recent years.

Zinke, at a news conference Tuesday, acknowledged that temperatures are warming and the fire season is growing longer. But he also took a shot at environmental groups for blocking proper forest management.

"Every time there is a thinning project, who is suing?" Zinke said. "Lawsuit after lawsuit by, yes, the radical environmental groups that would rather burn down an entire forest than thin a single tree. So yes, I do lay it at their feet."

Zinke didn't specify which environmental groups he held responsible, saying their identities can be discerned by noticing the name of the plaintiffs in those lawsuits.

His comments elicited a strong rebuke from environmental advocates, including Athan Manuel, lands protection director for the Sierra Club.

"Perhaps it’s the numerous investigations, the potential criminal charges eating at him, or the fact that he still doesn’t even know what department the forest service is under, but Ryan Zinke would best be served by focusing on the people rather than making disgusting and dangerous accusations," Manuel said in a statement.

Last week, Zinke visited the Northern California site of the Camp Fire, which has killed at least 79 people. Days after the fire began burning, President Donald Trump tweeted a threat to withhold federal payments to California, accusing the state of "poor" forest management.

Gov. Jerry Brown, a frequent critic of Trump and Zinke, has muted his criticism of the administration. Brown has instead focused on points of agreement and said he was encouraged by Trump's more recent pledge to provide funds to the state.

The National Fire Interagency Center estimated the cost to fight the Camp Fire alone at $82.2 million – and rising.

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Cal Fire, in an update on the fire Tuesday, increased the total number of homes destroyed by the Camp Fire to a whopping 12,637. Another 483 businesses have burned, along with 3,718 other buildings.

Satellite imagery shows drastic before and after Camp Fire Satellite images show how the Camp Fire destroyed nearly 12,000 homes in Paradise, California.

Almost 700 people remain unaccounted for, although authorities say many survivors don't even know they are on the list. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the number has fluctuated because of the size of the fire, the massive destruction and the disruption in services that has separated people and cut off communications.

“We have displaced tens of thousands of people from their homes as a result of this fire,” he said.

The fire had burned more than 235 square miles. The silver lining: The fire was 70 percent contained.

But while heavy rains forecast for the next few days are expected to help tamp down the flames, authorities fear ash flows and mudslides could make movement in the area treacherous. It could also wash away the charred remains of the fire's victims even as searchers pick through the debris.

The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning for the area.

"Firefighters continue to strengthen and improve containment lines while also holding direct fire lines," Cal Fire said. "Search and Rescue crews continue to assist the Butte County Sheriff’s Office in the search and recovery operations for missing victims."

Contributing: Jim Schultz and Damon Arthur, Redding Record Searchlight