Death toll rises to 31 in California fires

The death toll in the California wildfires has risen to 31, with more than 200 people still missing.

It's estimated that around 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the state, with three major fires blazing across California.

The most significant is the Camp Fire in the north, where 29 people have been confirmed dead, making it the equal worst fire on record in the state.

Two people have died in the Woolsey Fire in the south, near Malibu.

US President Donald Trump has blamed the fires on poor forest management, and threatened to cut funding while the California Governor Jerry Brown urges the President to declare the event a national disaster in a bid to increase federal funding to the area.

Strong winds are threatening to spread the fires even further, with winds up to 122kmh expected over coming days.

Newshub.