California fires 2020: Homes burn, thousands evacuated

California is used to wildfires. But the Golden State's record-breaking 2020 wildfire season has been particularly brutal. A blistering heat wave fueled dozens of simultaneous fires — conditions that spurred Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a statewide state of emergency. The fires then resurged in the fall, boosted by high winds. 

Tens of thousands of people evacuated. Millions of acres burned. Businesses in noted wine-growing areas, including Napa Valley, were also under threat. And still more fires spread along the California-Oregon border. In some areas, hundreds of people have been removed from their neighborhoods by helicopter, and thousands have been affected by fire-related power outages. Skies turned disturbing shades of orange in many areas, as strong winds blew smoke across large swaths of the state.

Here, flames come close to houses during the Blue Ridge Fire on October 27, 2020 in Chino Hills, California. 

Dangerous fire weather

A helicopter flies away after dropping water over the Blue Ridge Fire burning along the 71 state highway on October 27, 2020, in Chino Hills, Calif. 

Crews tried to beat back two wildfires in Southern California that forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes even as another round of dangerous fire weather raised the risk for flames erupting across the state.

View from above

This satellite image shows the Blue Ridge and Silverado wildfires burning in Southern California. The fires threatened multiple cities, including Yorba Linda, Chino Hills and Irvine.

Backfire operation

Firefighters conduct a backfire operation on brush at Chino Hills State Park on October 27, 2020 during the Blue Ridge Fire in Chino Hills, California.

Threatening the road

The Blue Ridge Fire burns along the 71 state highway on October 27, 2020, in Chino Hills, California. 

Out of the pool

Firefighters set a backfire to protect homes and try to contain the Blue Ridge Fire on October 27, 2020 in Chino Hills, California. 

Strong Santa Ana Winds gusting to more than 90 miles per hour drove the Blue Ridge Fire and Silverado Fire across thousands of acres.

Backlit

Residents are silhouetted as they watch the Blue Ridge Fire burning in Yorba Linda, California, on October 26, 2020.

Close to cars

The Blue Ridge Fire burns along the 71 state highway on October 27, 2020, in Chino Hills, California.

In the line of fire

Here, Butte County firefighters watch as flames quickly spread across a road at the Bear fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020.

Law enforcement at the scene

A law enforcement officer watches flames launch into the air as Bear Fire continues to spread in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020.

Melted play equipment

A melted slide smolders as a playground continues to burn at Pine Ridge school during the Creek Fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California on September 8, 2020.

Strange day for a game

Here's an exterior view of the ballpark before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Seattle Mariners at Oracle Park on September 9, 2020 in San Francisco, California. Smoke from various wildfires burning across Northern California has blanketed the city in an orange glow.

Bun on the run

A rabbit crosses the road near flames from the Valley Fire in Jamul, California on September 6, 2020 

Little League plays on

Little League players warm up before a game as a brushfire blazes in a field next to the Sycuan Casino on the Sycuan Indian reservation during the Valley Fire, near Dehesa, in San Diego, California on September 6, 2020.

A home in flames

A home burns during the Bear Fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires in the Berry Creek area of unincorporated Butte County, California on September 9, 2020. 

Motionless

Burned vehicles smolder at a residence during the Creek Fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California on September 8, 2020.

Line of fire

Firefighters cut defensive lines and light backfires to protect structures behind a CalFire fire station during the Bear fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires in the Berry Creek area of unincorporated Butte County, California on September 9, 2020. 

Burned station

A burned Valero gas station smolders during the Creek Fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California on September 8, 2020.

Home no more

A home is completely destroyed after the Creek Fire swept through the area on September 8, 2020 near Shaver Lake, California.

Towering flames

Butte County firefighters watch as flames tower over their truck at the Bear Fire in Oroville, California on September 9, 2020. 

"All clear"?

A home sits with an "All Clear" sign on the front as fire approaches a neighborhood during the Creek Fire in the Tollhouse area of unincorporated Fresno County, California on September 8, 2020. 

Smoldering

A burned residence smolders during the Bear fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires, in unincorporated Butte County, California on September 9, 2020.

Close to home

A brushfire encroaches along Japatul Road during the Valley Fire in Jamul, California on September 6, 2020.

Golden Gate Bridge in a haze

Cars drive along the Golden Gate Bridge under an orange smoke-filled sky at midday in San Francisco on September 9, 2020. 

Melted metal

Melted metal sits in place after flowing from a smoldering vehicle during the Bear Fire, part of the North Lightning Complex fires, in unincorporated Butte County, California on September 9, 2020.

Embers in motion

Embers fly off burning timber as flames push towards homes during the Creek Fire in the Cascadel Woods area of unincorporated Madera County, California on September 7, 2020. 

Eerie scene

A community of forest homes lies in ruins along Auberry Road in the Meadow Lakes area after the Creek Fire swept through on September 8, 2020 near Shaver Lake, California.

A flag in Vacaville

An American flag waves in front of a burning home in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020.

For some: The aftermath

A burned residence is seen during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Vacaville, California on August 24, 2020. 

Thousands of firefighters made small progress that day as they battled to contain historic wildfires in the state, with potentially dangerous lighting storms proving milder than expected and temperatures easing. 

Fire on the move

This satellite image, taken over the northern California town of Toro Park, was captured on August 22, 2020. 

Fire whirl phenomenon

A fire whirl shoots into the sky as flames from the Hog Fire jump Highway 36, about 5 miles from Susanville, California, on July 20, 2020. 

The fire created its own weather, generating lightning, thunder, rain and fire whirls out of a huge ash plume towering above. The Lassen County Sheriff's office issued a mandatory evacuation order for the area. 

Saving his home

Bill Nichols, 84, works to save his home as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tore through Vacaville, California, on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. Nichols has lived in the home for 77 years. 

"Strong"

A "Vaca Strong" message is painted onto a burned hillside during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Vacaville, California on August 24, 2020. 

Lost car

A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020.

On the ground

A burned car and home are seen next door to an untouched home in during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Bucktown, California on August 24, 2020.

Fleeing wildlife

A hare jumps over a fire line as flames rage through the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California during the Hennessey Fire on August 18, 2020. 

CZU Lightning Complex fire

This August 21, 2020, satellite image was taken over the CZU Lightning Complex fire, which affects parts of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, in northern California.

Bicycle on fire

A bicycle and palm tree burn at a residence during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California on August 18, 2020.

Hardy survivor

A rooster walks by a burned vehicle during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Vacaville, California on August 24, 2020. 

Plume of smoke

A plume rises over a vineyard in unincorporated Napa County as the Hennessey Fire burns on August 18, 2020. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of blazes sparked by lightning strikes as a statewide heat wave continues.

Air tanker in action

Firefighter Ian Johnson watches as an air tanker drops retardant to keep the River Fire from reaching a home in Salinas, California, on August 17, 2020. 

Animals in danger

A horse walks towards flames as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, California, on August 19, 2020. 

Covered in smoke

This satellite photo, taken August 20, 2020, shows smoke from the LNU Lightning Complex wildfire over Healdsburg, California. 

COVID-19 warnings in flames

Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires burn in unincorporated Napa County, California, on August 18, 2020. The blaze went on to destroy multiple homes near Lake Berryessa. 

Embers on a hillside

Seen in a long-exposure photograph, embers burn along a hillside as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through unincorporated Napa County, California, on August 18, 2020. 

Doing what he can

Matt Nichols sprays water while trying to save his home as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, California, on August 19, 2020. 

What remains

Burned vehicles rest beneath a tree after the LNU Lightning Complex fires tore through Vacaville on August 19, 2020.

Burning tree

Bill Nichols extinguishes a burning tree as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through Vacaville, California, on August 19, 2020. 

Buildings ruined

An outbuilding burns as the LNU Lightning Complex fires tear through the Spanish Flat area of unincorporated Napa County on August 18, 2020.

Making a call

Jerry Kuny makes a phone call as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach on August 18, 2020, in Napa County, California. The blaze went on to destroy multiple homes near Lake Berryessa. 

Carmel fire

A home in the Sky Ranch community burns in the Carmel Fire near Carmel Valley, California, on August18, 2020.

Inmates fighting fires

An inmate firefighter rests during a break from battling the River Fire in Salinas, California, on August 17, 2020. 

Double trouble

A tree stump keeps burning as hail falls directly on the Hog Fire, covering the ground, near Susanville, California, on July 21, 2020. A thunderstorm, mixed with a pyrocumulus ash column from the fire, brought with it erratic winds and lightning before evolving into a hail storm that extinguished a portion of the fire. 

Jumping a highway

Flames rip through trees as the Hog Fire jumps Highway 36, about 5 miles from Susanville, California on July 20, 2020. 

Fires near Silicon Valley

The SCU Lightning Complex fire is seen here via satellite imagery captured on August 22, 2020. It's burning just west of San Jose, Palo Alto and Mountain View, three key areas of operation for tech companies and their workers. 

Eerie effects

In this long-exposure photograph, embers fly off a burning tree during the Hennessey Fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California on August 18, 2020. 

Weird weather

Hail covers a road in at a still-smoldering area of the Hog Fire near Susanville, California on July 21, 2020. 

Anti-flame steps

An airplane makes a retardant drop over homes in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California during the Hennessey Fire on August 18, 2020.

Privacy, please

A sign asking for privacy is posted in the middle of a street during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Bucktown, California on August 24, 2020. 

Nothing left

A home burns in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020.

Through the danger

A fire truck drives through flames as the Hennessey Fire continues to rage out of control near Lake Berryessa in Napa, California on August 18, 2020. 

A lake alight

In this long-exposure photograph, flames consumes both sides of a segment of Lake Berryessa during the Hennessey Fire in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California on August 18, 2020. 

Onward

A truck drives past flames near Vacaville, in Northern California, during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. 

Enshrouded

This August 21, 2020, satellite image was taken over the CZU Lightning Complex fire, which affects parts of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties in Northern California. 

People losing homes

Homes are engulfed in flames in Vacaville, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. 

Not going anywhere

A car burns at a residence in the valley area of Vacaville, northern California, during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. 

Noble Villa burns

A home burns in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California as flames rage on August 18, 2020.

Horses in peril

Horses are seen in a stall as flames from the Hennessey Fire approach a property in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California on August 18, 2020. 

Engulfed

A home burns in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California as flames rage on August 18, 2020. 

Trying to save homes

An airplane drops fire retardant over homes in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California as flames rage through on August 18, 2020.

Burning palm

A palm tree and shrubs burn as flames approach a home as the Hennessey Fire continues to rage out of control near Lake Berryessa in Napa, California, on August 18, 2020. 

Boats threatened

American flags wave in the wind as flames approach a boat rental shop in the Spanish Flat area of Napa, California, during the Hennessey Fire on August 18, 2020. 

Pig in danger

A pig stands in a field as the LNU Lightning Complex fire approaches on August 19, 2020 in Fairfield, California. 

Tough road

Fire burns along the closed Interstate 80 as the LNU Lightning Complex fire burns through the area on August 19, 2020 in Fairfield, California. 

In the thick of it

A Pacific Gas and Electric firefighter walks down a road as flames approach in Fairfield, California during the LNU Lightning Complex fire on August 19, 2020. Thousands of people have fled their homes in Northern California.

Burning swath

This fire, burning south of Carmel, California, was captured via satellite on August 21, 2020.

Boats in peril

Docked boats burn on Lake Berryessa during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Napa, California on August 19, 2020. 

Low visibility

A fire truck drives along a closed Interstate 80 as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fire continue to spread in Fairfield, California on August 19, 2020. 

Furry survivor

An alpaca sits next to a burned-out truck after the LNU Lightning Complex fire moved through the area on August 19, 2020 in Fairfield, California. 

Grass in flames

Flames burn through dry grass as the LNU Lightning Complex fire moves through the area on August 19, 2020 in Winters, California. 

Burning dock

A boat dock on Lake Berryessa burns as the LNU Lightning Complex fire moves through the area on August 19, 2020 in Napa, California.