Air quality in Northern California becomes worst in the world

Smoke from California's wildfires caused northern parts of the state to record the worst levels of air quality in the world, according to Purple Air. The levels in California exceeded cities in India and China.

Most schools in San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland and Folsom said they would be closed Friday. At least six universities in Northern California canceled classes Thursday. San Francisco's cable cars were shut down Friday to encourage residents and tourists to stay inside.

Authorities say figure up by 500 since Wednesday as more remains found in towns devastated by state’s deadliest fire

The number of missing or unaccounted for people in the northern California wildfire soared to 631 on Thursday, authorities said, an increase of more than 500 since Wednesday.

The news came as the death toll in the Camp fire increased to 63 after authorities recovered the remains of an additional seven people

A burned neighborhood in Paradise, California.

The remains were found outdoors and in the rubble of homes and cars in the towns of Paradise, Magalia and Concow.

One victim was found in a overturned charred car in Paradise.

The revised official roster of 631 individuals whose whereabouts and fate remained unknown is more than double the 297 listed earlier in the day by the Butte county sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Kory Honea said the list of missing would continue to fluctuate as more names were added and others removed, either because they turned up safe or were identified among the dead.

More than 9,700 homes have been destroyed, along with a total of 118 multi-family residences and 290 businesses. The fire has destroyed 11,862 structures.

Michael John Ramirez hugs his wife Charlie Ramirez after they manage to recover her keepsake bracelet that didn’t melt in the fire.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Fema, is in the area to aid the more than 52,000 forced to evacuate because of the fire, which is the deadliest and most destructive in California’s history.

The fire grew to 140,000 acres, or 219 sq miles, Thursday as crews managed to push containment up to 40%. Authorities were able to lift evacuation orders in some areas near Chico and Forest Ranch.

Wind conditions are expected to worsen this weekend.

The Walkers look for people they know on a list of people missing in the aftermath of the Camp Fire in Chico.

It was a busy day for authorities in northern California. Police officers were involved in a shooting in an area under evacuation that left one man and two dogs dead, including a police canine.

The Butte county district attorney, Mike Ramsey, said the man was a 48-year-old from Berry Creek who was a suspect in a 2014 double murder. When approached by officers, he allegedly reached for a gun after saying: “I’m not going back. You guys should have left me alone.”

Down south, the Woolsey fire grew slightly to 98,362 acres, or 154 sq miles, and firefighters managed to increase containment to 57%. The Los Angeles sheriff began allowing residents to return to certain parts of Malibu, and the smaller communities of Lake Sherwood and Hidden Valley.

The White House announced that Donald Trump would visit the the state Saturday to meet with victims of the deadly wildfires raging in northern and southern California.

Fire investigators have also identified a possible second origin of the Camp fire, the cause of which remains under investigation.