Man dies of injuries, raising California wildfires death toll to 44

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – A man who was badly burned in deadly wildfires in Northern California died of his injuries, raising the death toll to 44.

San Francisco radio station KQED reported 41-year-old Michel Azarian died Sunday at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where he was being treated for extensive burns.

Azarian’s friend, Khachik Papanyan, told the radio station that Azarian was an engineer who loved photography and hiking and had moved to Santa Rosa two years ago for a new job.

Papanyan said it appeared Azarian tried to take shelter in a small clearing near his home. That’s where he was discovered the next day, with severe burns on more than half his body.

A series of blazes that started the night of Oct. 8 destroyed about 8,900 homes and other buildings.