Rain is on its way to California.

Firefighters battling the deadly fires raging at both ends of California will get some respite when a rainstorm hits Tuesday night (local time) and into Wednesday, US meteorologists said.

Additional rounds of rain are expected in northern California, near the devastating Camp Fire, on Thursday and Friday, according to Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll.

“The rain mid- to late week will greatly aid crews battling the Camp Fire,” Mr Doll said.

Southern California, where the destructive Woolsey Fire is raging, will also see rain midweek, but not as much as northern and central areas of the state.

Before the storm, firefighters will have to reckon with strong 80km/ph winds overnight and into Monday, which will make wrangling the blazes difficult and could only help the infernos spread.

But once rain arrives, it could help dissipate the thick smog hanging in the air, that’s caused many Californians to take to wearing face masks when they venture outside.

“Where Californians have spent days engulfed in toxic wildfire smoke, incoming rain and wind will offer dramatic relief later next week,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist and air quality blogger Faith Eherts.

But too much rain on scorched ground could cause dangerous mudslides or debris to flow, meteorologists warned.

Since it began raging on November 8, the Camp Fire has killed 76 people with 1300 still missing. Nearly 10,000 homes and 375 kilometres have been torched in the blaze, that is 55 per cent contained.

In southern California, three people have been killed and 1245 kilometres burned, with the Woolsey Fire being about 82 per cent contained.

As hundreds of searchers sift through the rubble in the town of Paradise looking for the dead, nearly 1300 people remain unaccounted for more than a week after the fire sparked in Butte County, Sheriff Kory Honea announced. Authorities stressed that the long roster does not mean they believe all those people are missing.

Sheriff Honea pleaded with fire evacuees Saturday to review the list of those reported as unreachable by family and friends and call if they are safe. Deputies have located hundreds of people to date, but the overall number keeps growing because they are adding more names, including those from the disaster’s chaotic early hours, Sheriff Honea said.

“It’s really very important for you to take a look at the list and call us if you’re on the list,” he said.

The remains of five more people were found Saturday, including four in the decimated town of Paradise and one in nearby Concow, bringing the number of dead to 76.