Several fires burning throughout California have destroyed thousands of structures and placed tens of thousands of lives at risk.
The Camp Fire burning north of Sacramento and the Hill and Woolsey fires burning near Los Angeles have forced roughly 157,000 people from their homes, USA Today reports.
All three fires are fed by dry fuel and driven by strong winds. Cal Fire, California’s state fire agency, has placed millions of Californians under Red Flag warnings for severe wildfire conditions.
The Camp Fire in Northern California is the largest of the blazes and had consumed more than 70,000 acres by Friday morning. The fire sped through and nearly destroyed the town of Paradise. (RELATED: ‘Wiped Out’: Wildfires Rage Across California, Destroy An Entire Town)
The town’s 27,000 residents were forced to flee Thursday morning after waking up to the fire burning nearly on top of them. Many escaped by driving over highways thick with smoke and edged in flames.
The Camp Fire was around 5 percent contained Friday morning with more than 2,200 firefighters in 303 fire engines, 11 helicopters and other vehicles working to control the blaze, according to Cal Fire. It has killed at least five people.
Towering “firenado” seen swirling amid the #CampFire that has scorched at least 20,000 acres in Northern California.
The Butte County Sheriff has received reports of multiple fatalities, but officials are trying to confirm those reports, authorities say. https://t.co/raFNjOeuA6 pic.twitter.com/DOvcpnKYqG
— ABC News (@ABC) November 9, 2018
The Hill Fire has burned about 10,000 acres. No homes have been destroyed but several other structures and RVs have been consumed by the blaze. Fire officials expect the Hill Fire to reach the Pacific Ocean, CNN reports.
The Woolsey Fire had torched around 8,000 acres between Thursday evening and Friday morning. The fire jumped U.S. Interstate 101 during the night and began speeding toward Malibu, a town of about 12,000 residents that are under a voluntary evacuation order.
You can see just how insane this wind is. @VCFD_PIO: the high winds and low humidity will continue throughout the am. “These conditions make control of the fire perimeter nearly impossible,” so firefighters remain focused on trying to protect properties as the fire line widens pic.twitter.com/vRsxlqwYzy
— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) November 9, 2018
Officials have ordered another 75,000 people in Ventura and Los Angeles counties to evacuate because of the Woolsey Fire. Windy conditions with gusts up to 77 miles per hour are whipping through Southern California driving both the Woolsey and Hill fires, according to CNN.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.