A couple of fast-growing wildfires in northern California expanded by more than 25 per cent overnight and continues to spread as more residents are ordered to evacuate their homes and weary firefighters endure high temperatures and gusting winds.
Two blazes collectively called the Mendocino Complex burned in Mendocino, Lake and Colusa counties, about 145km north of San Francisco. The River and Ranch fires had grown to cover a total of 81,500 hectares by early Saturday, and were considered 34-per cent contained.
The scorched land figure is expected to rise when the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) issues an update on Saturday night, spokeswoman Tricia Austin said.
This year, California wildfires have burned more land earlier in the "fire season" than usual, said Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director, during a news conference on Saturday.
Firefighters continue to battle huge blazes in Lakeport, California, with thousands evacuated. Source: AAP
"Fire season is really just beginning. What seems like we should be in the peak of fire season, historically, is really now the kind of conditions we're seeing really at the beginning," said Pimlott.
California Governor Jerry Brown, who visited some of the burned areas on Saturday, said, "This is part of a trend, the new normal, that we've got to deal with."
Through last week, California fires had torched about 117,300 hectares, more than double the five-year average over that same period, according to Cal Fire.
A firefighter pauses while battling fires near Redding, California. Source: Getty
The Mendocino Complex fires cover more than two-thirds the size of sprawling Los Angeles. They have forced the evacuation of more than 20,000 residents and destroyed more than 100 structures.
More evacuations were ordered on Saturday afternoon, but no estimate of people involved was released.
The Mendocino Complex fires have swelled to become larger than the deadly Carr Fire, about 160km to the northeast, which has killed at least six people and destroyed more than 1500 structures.
So far this year, US fires have burned two million hectares, much more than the 10-year average, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
