| TOP STORIES FOR OCTOBER 17 |
California Firestorm Took Deadly Toll on Elderly; Average Age of Victims Identified so far is 79
Among the dozen people identified by Sonoma and Napa county officials as of late Thursday, the average age of those who died was 79. The youngest victim was 57, the oldest 100. READ MORE California Fires: PG&E Power Lines Fell in Winds That Weren't 'Hurricane Strength'
PG&E said Tuesday that 'hurricane strength winds in excess of 75 mph in some cases' had damaged their equipment, but they said it was too early to speculate what started the fires. READ MORE Sonoma County Officials Opted Not to Send Mass Alert on Deadly Fire
It’s unclear how much that decision might have affected area residents’ responses to the deadly wildfires, particularly since many cell phone towers were destroyed in the blaze, making such messages undeliverable. READ MORE | 