Publication Date October 18, 2017 | CNBC

Death toll in California wildfires grows to 42, PG&E sued by couple who lost home

United States
A woman looks out at the destruction caused by the Tubbs fire while holding items of emotional importance salvaged from her childhood home in the Coffey Park neighborhood on October 15, 2017 in Santa Rosa, California. Photo: Getty Images
A woman looks out at the destruction caused by the Tubbs fire while holding items of emotional importance salvaged from her childhood home in the Coffey Park neighborhood on October 15, 2017 in Santa Rosa, California. Photo: Getty Images

A Santa Rosa couple filed the first lawsuit against PG&E in connection with the deadly Northern California wildfires and alleges negligence and violations of various utility and safety codes.

At the same time, the death toll from the disaster grew to 42 after the remains of a man were found in a residence late Tuesday, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday morning.

As of Wednesday, 53 people remained missing in Sonoma County alone although there are also wildfires in Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Butte and several other Northern California counties.

One additional death was confirmed in Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County, when authorities found a man in the Fountaingrove community late Tuesday. Of the 42 deaths so far, 23 have been in Sonoma County.