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California Fires Look Like Hell on Earth!

Published September 14th, 2020 - 07:07 GMT

The two dozen major fires burning across Northern California are driven by millions of acres of fuel: Bone-dry trees and brush that have not burned in many years.

Wildfires in California have torched a record of more than two million acres. The record was hit as the wildfire season still has roughly two months to go in the most populous US state and as thousands of firefighters battle flames during a scorching heat wave.

Thousands of lightning strikes have hit the state in the past week, igniting fires that left smoke blanketing the region.

That is considered a stunning toll this early in California's fire season, which normally runs from August to November, and it comes as exhausted firefighters are already struggling to keep up with the far-flung blazes.

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A boat motors by as the Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes Tuesday, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP

A boat motors by as the Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes Tuesday, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP

The San Francisco skyline is obscured in orange smoke and haze as their seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco, California on September 9, 2020. More than 300,000 acres are burning across the northwestern state including 35 major wildfires, with at least five towns "substantially destroyed" and mass evacuations taking place. Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP

The San Francisco skyline is obscured in orange smoke and haze as their seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco, California on September 9, 2020. More than 300,000 acres are burning across the northwestern state including 35 major wildfires, with at least five towns "substantially destroyed" and mass evacuations taking place. Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP

A Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet drops fire retardant to slow Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

A Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet drops fire retardant to slow Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

San Miguel County Firefighters battle a brush fire along Japatul Road during the Valley Fire in Jamul, California on September 6, 2020 The Valley Fire in the Japatul Valley burned 4,000 acres overnight with no containment and 10 structures destroyed, Cal Fire San Diego said. SANDY HUFFAKER / AFP

San Miguel County Firefighters battle a brush fire along Japatul Road during the Valley Fire in Jamul, California on September 6, 2020 The Valley Fire in the Japatul Valley burned 4,000 acres overnight with no containment and 10 structures destroyed, Cal Fire San Diego said. SANDY HUFFAKER / AFP

The sun is seen behind smoke from the Bobcat fire rising above in the Angeles National Forest above Duarte, California, about 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Los Angeles, September 7, 2020. Eight national forests in California have been closed as firefighters battle blazes across the state which is in the grips of a record-setting heat wave. Robyn Beck / AFP

The sun is seen behind smoke from the Bobcat fire rising above in the Angeles National Forest above Duarte, California, about 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Los Angeles, September 7, 2020. Eight national forests in California have been closed as firefighters battle blazes across the state which is in the grips of a record-setting heat wave. Robyn Beck / AFP

Fire retardant from a Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet falls on a forest to slow the Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Image

Fire retardant from a Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet falls on a forest to slow the Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

California Fires (Twitter)

California Fires (Twitter)

Butte County firefighters watch as flames quickly spread across a road at the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP

Butte County firefighters watch as flames quickly spread across a road at the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP

A boat motors by as the Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes Tuesday, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP
The San Francisco skyline is obscured in orange smoke and haze as their seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco, California on September 9, 2020. More than 300,000 acres are burning across the northwestern state including 35 major wildfires, with at least five towns "substantially destroyed" and mass evacuations taking place. Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP
A Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet drops fire retardant to slow Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
San Miguel County Firefighters battle a brush fire along Japatul Road during the Valley Fire in Jamul, California on September 6, 2020 The Valley Fire in the Japatul Valley burned 4,000 acres overnight with no containment and 10 structures destroyed, Cal Fire San Diego said. SANDY HUFFAKER / AFP
The sun is seen behind smoke from the Bobcat fire rising above in the Angeles National Forest above Duarte, California, about 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Los Angeles, September 7, 2020. Eight national forests in California have been closed as firefighters battle blazes across the state which is in the grips of a record-setting heat wave. Robyn Beck / AFP
Fire retardant from a Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet falls on a forest to slow the Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Image
California Fires (Twitter)
Butte County firefighters watch as flames quickly spread across a road at the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP
A boat motors by as the Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes Tuesday, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP
A boat motors by as the Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes Tuesday, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP
The San Francisco skyline is obscured in orange smoke and haze as their seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco, California on September 9, 2020. More than 300,000 acres are burning across the northwestern state including 35 major wildfires, with at least five towns "substantially destroyed" and mass evacuations taking place. Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP
The San Francisco skyline is obscured in orange smoke and haze as their seen from Treasure Island in San Francisco, California on September 9, 2020. More than 300,000 acres are burning across the northwestern state including 35 major wildfires, with at least five towns "substantially destroyed" and mass evacuations taking place. Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP
A Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet drops fire retardant to slow Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
A Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet drops fire retardant to slow Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Los Angeles County firefighters, using only hand tools, keep fire from jumping a fire break at the Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 11, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
San Miguel County Firefighters battle a brush fire along Japatul Road during the Valley Fire in Jamul, California on September 6, 2020 The Valley Fire in the Japatul Valley burned 4,000 acres overnight with no containment and 10 structures destroyed, Cal Fire San Diego said. SANDY HUFFAKER / AFP
San Miguel County Firefighters battle a brush fire along Japatul Road during the Valley Fire in Jamul, California on September 6, 2020 The Valley Fire in the Japatul Valley burned 4,000 acres overnight with no containment and 10 structures destroyed, Cal Fire San Diego said. SANDY HUFFAKER / AFP
The sun is seen behind smoke from the Bobcat fire rising above in the Angeles National Forest above Duarte, California, about 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Los Angeles, September 7, 2020. Eight national forests in California have been closed as firefighters battle blazes across the state which is in the grips of a record-setting heat wave. Robyn Beck / AFP
The sun is seen behind smoke from the Bobcat fire rising above in the Angeles National Forest above Duarte, California, about 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Los Angeles, September 7, 2020. Eight national forests in California have been closed as firefighters battle blazes across the state which is in the grips of a record-setting heat wave. Robyn Beck / AFP
Fire retardant from a Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet falls on a forest to slow the Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Image
Fire retardant from a Coulson 737 firefighting tanker jet falls on a forest to slow the Bobcat Fire at the top of a major run up a mountainside in the Angeles National Forest on September 10, 2020 north of Monrovia, California. California wildfires that have already incinerated a record 2.3 million acres this year and are expected to continue till December. The Bobcat Fire has grown to about 24,00 acres, and is 6% contained. David McNew/Getty Images/AFP DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
California Fires (Twitter)
California Fires (Twitter)
Butte County firefighters watch as flames quickly spread across a road at the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP
Butte County firefighters watch as flames quickly spread across a road at the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. Dangerous dry winds whipped up California's record-breaking wildfires and ignited new blazes, as hundreds were evacuated by helicopter and tens of thousands were plunged into darkness by power outages across the western United States. JOSH EDELSON / AFP

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