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California has been punished by over 900 wildfires that have burned parts of the state. Many of the fires were ignited by intense lightning strikes that started on August 15th. The California wildfires continue to rage.

To organize the firefighting and rescue efforts, the California Office of Emergency Services (COES) names each fire.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) said 12,500 firefighters are currently battling 22 major fires in the state. Despite the heat, firefighters were able to contain two major fires in coastal Monterey County.

So far the blazes have decimated over 2 million acres. There have been 8 confirmed fire deaths including a hiker. And nearly 3,900 structures have been damaged or destroyed.

With record-breaking temperatures and the sheer number of California wildfires, the state’s electrical grid was badly strained and could lead to power outages and rolling blackouts.

San Diego-The "Valley Fire"

In eastern San Diego County, the "Valley Fire" broke out on Saturday afternoon. Fire officials warned the blaze was burning at a “dangerous rate of speed.”

By Sunday morning it had destroyed at least 10 structures and turned almost 7 square miles into ashes. The remote community of Alpine within the Cleveland National Forest had to be evacuated.

At least two of the lost structures were homes. And as of Monday the fire is still not entirely contained.

Yucaipa- “Cal Fire”

In Southern California, crews scrambled to put out several fires that had just started. The largest was a fire in the foothills of Yucaipa. The “Cal Fire” raged just East of Los Angeles and prompted evacuation orders for portions of the city. Yucaipa has a population of 54,000. An evacuation order was also given to several nearby mountain communities.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire, said the fire scorched at least 4.2 square miles of brush and trees.

The blaze was 5% contained as of Sunday morning.

Sierra National Forest rescues- "Creek Fire"

AP reports that on Saturday, September 5th there were over 200 rescues in California’s Sierra National Forest.

The Creek Fire began on Friday. By Saturday afternoon, it became widespread and crossed the San Joaquin River. When the blaze cut off the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground, evacuations began.

Governor Gavin Newsom deployed the California National Guard to help contain the central California wildfires and airlift evacuees to safety on military Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters. The rescues took place on Saturday night until Sunday morning.