Death toll climbs as fires continue to rage in US

George Coble carries a bucket of water to put out a tree still smouldering on his property destroyed by a wildfire (John Locher/AP)

At least 31 people have died as wildfires continue to rage across the West Coast of the United States.

Authorities are expecting more fatalities, and Oregon’s emergency management director said officials were preparing for a possible “mass fatality event”.