Obama called fire in California a major disaster

US President Barack Obama declared a huge wildfire in northern California a major natural disaster for the affected areas.

The move will allow for federal assistance for home repairs, temporary housing and other programs to help people affected by the fire, according to a White House statement. “Four years of extreme drought have scorched our landscapes and killed millions of trees,” writes Gov. Jerry Brown.

As a result of the fire, which began on September 12 near the mountain town of Cobb, three people were killed. According to a Lake County Sheriff, law enforcement officers are looking for two missing men: Robert Litchman, 61-year-old and Robert Taylor-Fletcher, 66-year-old.

Over the past 24 hours, law enforcement officers found six missing people, said County Sheriff Brian Martin.

The fire destroyed more than 1200 private homes, 23 apartment buildings and hundreds of other buildings, making it the third most devastating fire in state history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.