8 Missing As Huge Dixie Fire Rages in Northern California

At least eight people were missing Saturday as one of the worst wildfires in the nation scorched through Northern California.

Even as the calmer, less windy weather gave firefighters a break overnight with the Dixie fire, the third largest fire in California's history, the Pulmas County Sheriff's Office released the tragic news.

"We have received reports of eight unaccounted for inpiduals," the sheriff's office said in a statement, asking for the public's help in finding them.

Five of the missing people belong to the old mining town of Greenville where blazes leveled most of its downtown, about 160 miles north of Sacramento.

Greenville was established more than 150 years ago when nearby gold mines attracted settlers and merchants to the picturesque town in the Indian Valley. Most of its downtown was left in ashes. In addition, more than 184 structures were destroyed in the town and across the area.

Around 447,000 acres have already burned in the Dixie fire and it was 21% contained by mid afternoon, according to Edwin Zuniga, a firefighter and spokesman for Cal Fire, the combined firefighting agencies battling the blaze.

"We're hoping to gain ground," Zuniga said. "There are favorable weather conditions, with less wind and a blanket of smoke that blocks direct sunlight. It allows a higher humidity which helps us."