Paradise, California, a town of 26,682 residents, was destroyed by the Camp Fire earlier this month. The fire was so hot that car parts were melting out of engines. As of today, 84 people have been reported dead and 605 people are still missing.
Authorities faced with the grim task of identifying the burnt remains of the dead have looked to a company that rapidly analyzes DNA - ANDE - for help.
The company has tools that are meant to be used in virtually any condition, including a war zone. They have set up equipment near the site of the fire, in Chico, around ten miles from the site of the loss. They will be working with recovery teams led by the coroner, a National Guard unit, and cadaver dogs to sift through debris, and then analyze any biological material that's found, like bone fragments.
Source: Reuters