The death toll in wildfires sweeping California has risen to 31, with more than 200 people still unaccounted for, officials have said.

Six more people were confirmed killed in the Camp Fire in the north of the state, taking the toll there to 29.

It now equals the deadliest wildfire on record in California - the 1933 Griffith Park disaster in Los Angeles.

In the south, the Woolsey Fire has claimed two lives as it damaged beach resorts including Malibu.

An estimated 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes to avoid three major blazes in the state.

With strengthening winds threatening to spread the flames, state Governor Jerry Brown has urged President Donald Trump to declare a major disaster, a move that would harness more federal emergency funds.


The appeal came a day after Mr Trump threatened to cut funding for California, blaming the fires on poor forest management.
What is the latest on the Camp Fire?

Emergency teams have been sifting through the remains of more than 6,700 homes and businesses burned down in the town of Paradise.

The town and surrounding area bore the brunt of the inferno, which started in nearby forest on Thursday.

At a news conference late on Sunday, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the bodies of five people had been found in their burned-out homes and a sixth was found inside a vehicle. He said that more than 200 people were still unaccounted for.

The mayor of Paradise, Jody Jones, gave the BBC an update on the situation in the town.

"Most of the residential [area] is gone. I would say 90%," she said. "I had an opportunity to go up there and take a look for myself. Just about everyone I know lost their home."

The fire is the most destructive in the state's history and the joint deadliest.

It has burned more than 109,000 acres (44,000 hectares) and is nearly 25% contained, fire officials said.
What about the Woolsey Fire?

The blaze started on Thursday near Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles.

By Sunday it had consumed 83,000 acres and destroyed at least 177 buildings, officials said. It is only 10% contained. The smaller Hill Fire, nearby, has scorched 4,530 acres and is 75% contained.

Some looting was reported in the southern fire area over the weekend and police said arrests had been made.

Luxury homes in Malibu and other beach communities are among properties that have fallen victim to the flames.

But officials warned against complacency, with winds of up to 70mph (112km/h) expected over the coming days. They said fires could spread quickly and unexpectedly.

"Winds are already blowing. They are going to blow for the next three days. Your house can be rebuilt but you can't bring your life back," said Los Angeles County fire chief Daryl Osby.

Meteorologist David Gomberg told the Los Angeles Times newspaper that fire tornadoes were possible.
What do the politicians say?

Governor Brown's request to President Trump was aimed at bolstering the emergency response to what he called the "catastrophic" nature of the wildfires.

"We're putting everything we've got into the fight against these fires and this request ensures communities on the front lines get additional federal aid," Mr Brown's letter said.

Mr Trump's response to the fires has been criticised as unsympathetic and ill-informed.

On Sunday, during a trip to France, he tweeted: "With proper Forest Management, we can stop the devastation constantly going on in California. Get Smart!"

He has previously blamed Californian officials for wildfires and threatened to withhold federal funding.

In a tweet on Saturday, he accused state authorities of "gross mismanagement" of forests.

Mr Brown's spokesman, Evan Westrub, called Mr Trump's comments "inane and uninformed".


Reuters
Image caption Residents of Paradise are in shock from the scale of the destruction
Firefighters used a respite from strong winds on Saturday to drop fire retardants to strengthen firebreaks.
Image copyright Reuters
Image caption Fire retardant is dropped on to the Woolsey Fire near Malibu
Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption The Woolsey Fire is only 10% contained
Image copyright AFP
Image caption Luxury beachfront homes in Malibu have been claimed by the fire

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46175339

More pics from REUTERS

Cali

Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters at California !

We Pray That the MERCY OF GOD will heal the state of California and Stop the Fire!!

When GOD ALMIGHTY Roars, Events as these are bound to Occur!!

Sin is a Destroyer
Sin is a Damager

We Peay For California ! MERCY O LORD
MERCY O LORD! MERCY O LORD

Have MERCY on California LORD!

I believe Those who Have Ears and Eyes have Learnt some Lessons!!

HAVE MERCY WE PLEAD O LORD!

Righteousness89:
Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters at California !

We Pray That the MERCY OF GOD will heal the state of California and Stop the Fire!!

When GOD ALMIGHTY Roars, Events as these are bound to Occur!!

Sin is a Destroyer
Sin is a Damager

We Peay For California ! MERCY O LORD
MERCY O LORD! MERCY O LORD

Have MERCY on California LORD!

I believe Those who Have Ears and Eyes have Learnt some Lessons!!

HAVE MERCY WE PLEAD O LORD!

If the Lord God should even blow breeze, entire galaxies would be vaporized. Can you imagine what it takes to be God, the physics of it, especially as He's described in the Bible? Sitting in faraway heaven and the earth, his foot stool? Don't you think a Being like that opening His mouth alone would crush the Earth?

Stop pinning this on God, that what you Nigerians do.

It was a preventable disaster, they'd been controlling it but got slack. You should know enough about the effects of systemic slackness from Nigeria's perspective. Can we say God is responsible for Nigeria's problems?

Let's leave God out of this, it's de-marketing Him. And you still won't see folks in Church if you get them believing it's God killing peeps and wrecking their homes, ok?

Peace bro

Well I don't think God is responsible or has a hand in any of these disasters. The Lord Jesus Christ said in the scriptures Luke 13:3-5 "

(3)No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
(4)Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them:
Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem?
(5)No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

IdeyFindWife:


If the Lord God should even blow breeze, entire galaxies would be vaporized. Can you imagine what it takes to be God, the physics of it, especially as He's described in the Bible? Sitting in faraway heaven and the earth, his foot stool? Don't you think a Being like that opening His mouth alone would crush the Earth?

Stop pinning this on God, that what you Nigerians do.

It was a preventable disaster, they'd been controlling it but got slack. You should know enough about the effects of systemic slackness from Nigeria's perspective. Can we say God is responsible for Nigeria's problems?

Let's leave God out of this, it's de-marketing Him. And you still won't see folks in Church if you get them believing it's God killing peeps and wrecking their homes, ok?

Peace bro

California is beyond the ordinary!!
If u know what California represents u will know better!!

Many Events in these Last days are allowed to make Man return To His CREATOR..

God is burning this people with fire so they will turn to Him and repent and beg forgiveness. But it is already too late for many who have perished unrepentant for a grater fire, an everlasting fire consumes them now and forevermore! Their screams echo unheard and unpitied into eternity.

Turn from your wickedness O California, Land of Sodom!!

IdeyFindWife:


If the Lord God should even blow breeze, entire galaxies would be vaporized. Can you imagine what it takes to be God, the physics of it, especially as He's described in the Bible? Sitting in faraway heaven and the earth, his foot stool? Don't you think a Being like that opening His mouth alone would crush the Earth?

Stop pinning this on God, that what you Nigerians do.

It was a preventable disaster, they'd been controlling it but got slack. You should know enough about the effects of systemic slackness from Nigeria's perspective. Can we say God is responsible for Nigeria's problems?

Let's leave God out of this, it's de-marketing Him. And you still won't see folks in Church if you get them believing it's God killing peeps and wrecking their homes, ok?

Peace bro

Please explain how we got slack.

This is a natural disaster or an accident, no more no less. They're investigating power company and their power line.