Rain ends in northern California as search for wildfire victims continues

The rains that have drenched northern California for days were forecast to diminish on Saturday (Nov 24), giving way to clear skies as teams continue their search for the remains of victims of the deadliest wildfire in the state's history.

Irma Corona (R) comforts neighbor Gerryann Wulbern in front of the remains of Wulbern's home after the two returned for the first time since the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, U.S. November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage.

The so-called Camp Fire all but obliterated the town of Paradise, 280km northeast of San Francisco, on Nov 8, killing at least 84 people and destroying nearly 14,000 homes.

Some 475 people from Paradise and surrounding communities remain unaccounted for, according to a list from the Butte County Sheriff's Office. Drone footage provided by Paradise to help residents see if their homes survived showed how the fire leapt from house to house in the mountain community of 27,000.

Paradise was a popular destination for retirees, and two-thirds of the victims named so far were aged over 65.

Brett Bizzle comforts his wife Vanthy Bizzle who became emotional after returning to the remains of their home for the first time since the Camp Fire forced them to evacuate in Paradise, California, U.S. November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage.

The 5 to 8cm of rain that fell in the area during the last few days turned ash from the thousands of homes that were destroyed into slurry, complicating the work of finding bodies reduced to bone fragments.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has warned that remains of victims may be "very small bone fragments", and some may never be found.

Stanley Miniszewski Sr. sits in his car next to the remains of his RV after returning for the first time since the Camp Fire forced him to evacuate at Pine Ridge Park in Paradise, California, U.S. November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage.

Firefighting teams had contained 95 per cent of the blaze, which torched 154,000 acres - an area five times the size of San Francisco, said Andrew Freeborn, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Thousands of people forced to flee Paradise spent Thanksgiving in warehouses in the nearby city of Chico, or with friends or relatives in nearby towns./.

VNF/Reuters