Officials say that the death toll in Northern California has risen to five people in wake of the massive Butte and Valley fires in Calaveras County and Lake County.

The Butte Fire, which began on Sept. 9 in Amador and Calaveras Counties, has destroyed over 70,000 acres of land, 365 homes and nearly 300 structures. It has also forced thousands of Northern California residents to evacuate, while more than 6,000 structures remain threatened.

However, cooler temperatures helped firefighters to contain both blazes on Thursday. As of Friday, 63 percent of the massive Butte Fire was reported to be contained, according to Cal Fire, reports KCRA.

Meanwhile, the Valley Fire in Lake and Napa counties was listed as 45 percent contained after burning more than 73,700 acres and at least 585 residences since it began last Saturday.

So far, five people have reportedly died in the fires. Two men died in separate instances in Calaveras County after getting trapped in their homes. The remains of three other people were found in several other neighbourhoods, but officials say that the death toll could rise even more since there are still a couple more people who are reported missing.

"Knowing how fast these fires moved, and how much destruction they left, it would not surprise me if more bodies are found," Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant told The Sacramento Bee. "We are praying there are no more."

According to The SacBee, among the dead were a music composer and teacher, a former newspaper reporter, a retired teacher with multiple sclerosis, and a man described as a radio enthusiast.

Officials lifted evacuation orders for those living in Amador County, but some evacuations remain in place for residents of Calaveras County.

Evacuation orders still remain for many residents living in areas affected by the Valley Fire although repopulation was expected to resume Friday morning.