The Northern California wildfires have now claimed at 33 lives, and firefighters report they're finding more human remains.

One women is reported to have died in her husband's arms, as they tried to shelter in a swimming pool.

An area the size of New York City is now engulfed in flames, with almost 100,000 hectares burning.

Firefighters are getting no help from the conditions in northern California

Winds for the 48 hours are expected to reach up to 60 kilometres an hour.

Hundreds of people are are listed as missing.

One of the 8000 firefighters said they are trying to stop the fires getting larger, by cutting fire breaks in the forest.

"They're doing a backfire along the road and basically what that does is from the main coming towards this road we light the backfire and the backfire will take away the fuel bed."