California’s wildfire season is off to a fast and dangerous start, with more than a dozen blazes erupting since June 28, primarily in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, officials said. The rapid spread of flames across Southern California marks an intense beginning to what could be a long fire season.
Authorities warn that these early fires may foreshadow the months ahead, following a dry winter and spring. While most current fires are concentrated in the Southland, firefighting crews are also being deployed to Northern California, where a red flag warning remains in effect for several counties until 8 pm Tuesday due to high heat and strong winds.
As wildfires surge across California, other parts of the world are also experiencing devastating wildfires.
Click through the following gallery to learn more about the most destructive wildfires in recent history.