Two fast-moving wildfires in northern California have consumed more than 155 square kilometres of land near Sacramento injuring four firefighters and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Sunday in Lake and Napa counties and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said the fires have damaged or destroyed dozens of buildings including homes and schools.
Images of the wildfires show destroyed buildings, stranded cars engulfed in flames and firefighters working to control the blaze.
One resident of Mountain Ranch, a small community of about 1,600 people, told the Associated Press he lost his home of 28 years.
“I lost my business – it’s all burned up – my shop, my house, 28 years of living,” said Joe Thomas. “I got to start all over. It’s depressing.”
More than 1,000 firefighters are battling the wildfire burning near Valley Fire in Lake County, northwest of Sacramento. More than 3,800 firefighters were battling a second blaze in Amador and Calaveras Counties that has burned more than 65,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.
READ MORE: 4 firefighters injured, thousands flee fast-moving wildfires in California
The four firefighters who were injured have been taken to University of California Davis Medical Center where they are being treated for second-degree burns.
Ken Pimlott, the director of Cal Fire, posted a photo on Twitter that shows one of the firefighters, Richard Reiff, with what appears to be burns on his face, and his arms. Several fingers were wrapped in bandages and his body was covered by a blanket.
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Thirteen wildfires are currently raging across California and prompting the National Weather Service to issue air quality alerts for a large swath of the state as thick smoke clouded the region, according to Reuters.
Wildfires have become increasingly severe in California, where an ongoing drought has killed millions of trees and forced the government to mandate restrictions on water use.
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