Locals watch as a plume of red smoke from the wildfires rises in the sky above Healdsburg, California
More than 100,000 Californians have been told to leave their homes as the state battles some of the largest wildfires in its history.
The rapid spread of the blazes – caused by dry lightning strikes – comes during a heatwave which has seen temperatures of more than 37 degrees Celsius.
More than 12,000 firefighters aided by helicopters and air tankers are battling some 560 fires, including two dozen major ones, throughout California.
Firefighters battle to contain the blaze near the state’s busy Highway 49
Three groups of fires, called complexes, burning north, east and south of San Francisco have together scorched 991 square miles, destroyed more than 500 structures and killed five people.
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© Tracy Barbutes/ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock