Hundreds of wildfires are burning in California, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Many of the blazes were sparked by an unprecedented lightning siege of nearly 12,000 strikes over several days. This volatile situation was set up over months, like dominoes.
Vegetation growth in California results from spring rainstorms, creating a bed of fuel for potential wildfires.
Over the following months, persistent heat and low humidity make the vegetation dry and crunchy.
Humid air aloft feeds thunderstorms. Dry air below causes the rain to evaporate before reaching the ground in a phenomenon known as virga. Lightning from these storms can spark wildfires.
Aggressive firefighting has helped extinguish many fires. More than 10,000 firefighters are battling numerous fires across all jurisdictions.
The largest fire listed on Cal Fire's website Friday afternoon is a blaze named the SCU Lightning Complex Fire, which is made up of 20 separate fires burning near San Jose. The fire had ravaged more than 359 square miles and is 10% contained, threatening more than 6,200 structures as of Friday evening, according to the SCU branch of Cal Fire.
The LNU Lightning Complex Fire has burned a total of 342 square miles and was 7% contained Friday, according to officials.
Keep track of the latest developments: At least 6 dead as hundreds of wildfires burn in California