California fires MAPPED: Latest map of fires that will take WEEKS to contain

Several fires across California have caused devastation to the landscape and structures alike.

Strong winds, hot temperatures and hard to reach terrain have caused havoc for the firefighters tackling the blazes.

Bone-dry brush and undergrowth have meant that the fires have spread quickly, growing rapidly and dangerously close to residences in some areas.

Maps show the spread of fires throughout California, with the number of acres burned in the state this year at 749,770 according to Cal Fire.

The largest wildfires will take weeks to contain said Cal Fire Battalion, Chief Jonathan Cox.

Mr Cox said: “We’re not out of the woods.

“It will take weeks to get full containment on some of these larger fires. A lot of difficult work lies ahead.”

The Mendocino Complex fire is the largest wildfire in the history of California at 328,226 acres.

Currently, firefighters have been able to achieve 67 percent containment around the fires, but mandatory evacuations remain in place for areas in Lake County, Mendocino County and Colusa County.

For the Mendocino Complex fire, fire officials have said that full containment won’t be achieved until early September.

The Carr Fire has grown to 190,873 acres and is 57 percent contained.

There have been eight killed and 1,077 homes destroyed due to this fire in northern California, which began as a result of a vehicle failure.

Mandatory evacuations remain active for Whiskeytown Park and Rainbow Lake in Shasta County and Trinity Dam at Trinity Dam Blvd. in Trinity County.

Holy Fire in southern California has also increased in size to 22,158 acres, with fire crews managing 36 percent containment.

Some areas of Lake Elsinore have had their evacuation orders lifted – however returning residents have been warned to remain alert.

“The public is asked to use caution when re-entering the affected area,” the Cleveland National Forest’s tweet said.

“Heavy equipment and firefighters will continue working in the area. Residents should stay alert and be prepared for changing conditions.”

A Red Flag Warning is in place across California, due to weather conditions exacerbating the fires in the state.

There will be highs of 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30C) this week for California, with 59 percent humidity – adding to the challenges firefighters face.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has also issued an air quality alert for San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and valley portion of Kern counties.

This is due to the thick pillars of smoke rising from wildfires which can cause serious health problems when exposed to.

NWS warns that exposure to the particle pollution “can cause serious health problems, aggravate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and increase the risk of respiratory infections.”