Death toll from Northern California wildfire increases to 42

The death toll from the raging Camp Fire in the U.S. state of California has increased to 42, making it the deadliest in the state's history, local authorities said Monday.

An additional 13 bodies were discovered Monday in Northern California, said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea. The dead were so badly burned that authorities brought in a mobile DNA lab and asked forensic anthropologists to help identify them.

Honea said more than 200 people remain missing in and around the town of Paradise.

Xinhua reporters found their way to Paradise was blocked 56 km away from the town. The air was full of dust. Fire trucks were driving through the roads to contain the fire.

A firefighter from Oregon told Xinhua his team were deployed to Paradise to assist firefight from last Friday, working around the clock.

The fire, which decimated the town, has burned 117,000 acres (47,348 hectares) and is now about 30 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean said winds would be dying down Monday while humidity began to rise, which would help the firefighters.

The increased death toll of Camp Fire brought the statewide toll to 44.

The Woolsey Fire and Hill Fire in Southern California also continued to destroy homes.

The Woolsey Fire, which has claimed two lives and burned more than 90,000 acres (36,421 hectares), was 30 percent contained Monday evening. The Hill Fire, which ignited around the same time on Thursday afternoon not far from the Woolsey Fire, was 85 percent contained Monday, having already scorched 4,531 acres (1,834 hectares) and destroyed two structures.