California‘s lightning-sparked wildfires have left more than 771,000 acres scorched. The fires were sparked by lightning from unsettled weather earlier in the week. They are the largest in state history forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. It has destroyed more than 500 homes and other structures. In addition to the fatalities, more than 43 firefighters and civilians have been hurt.
With firefighting forces depleted from over 370 fires in the past five days, ground crews are working 72-hour shifts to save communities. There are more than 175,000 people facing mandatory evacuation.
The state has been hit by its worst dry-lightning storms in nearly two decades. Some 12,000 lightning strikes have sent flames racing through lands left parched by a recent heatwave.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said that the fire fighting crews were fighting 560 fires across the state. Most of them were sparked by lightning storms. He is now seeking reinforcements from as far away as Canada and Australia.
Some 3,000 firefighters had arrived in the past 24 hours, along with hundreds of fire engines from neighboring states.
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