By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office
Nov. 19, 2018
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office has offered to support recovery efforts in Butte County by sending personnel and its specially designed mobile morgue truck and trailers. Butte County has not requested the assistance yet, but it will remain available as officials continue their search for victims. The Camp Fire is the most destructive fire in California history, with more than 70 deaths and nearly 1,000 people still missing.
During large disasters, medical examiners from across the country help the affected area with identifying those who died as quickly as possible so that families can get answers about their loved ones. The refrigerated mobile morgue has running water, lights, equipment and space to perform an autopsy and to hold decedents until funeral arrangements can be made. The Medical Examiner purchased the vehicle in 2008 to make sure the region is prepared for a large disaster with mass casualties.
Video by Suzanne Bartole