At least 44 people are dead and more than 200 remain missing as thousands of firefighters battle to contain three major wildfires blazing across California.
On top of this, an estimated quarter of a million Californians have been forced to flee their homes to escape the inferno.
The worst wildfire California has ever seen has completely destroyed the Northern Californian forest town of Paradise.
Image: AFP
The town with a population of 26,000 experienced an unusually dry fall and was completely taken out by the fast-moving “Camp Fire” blaze.
Of the deaths at least 42 deaths were from the “Camp Fire” in Butte County and another two were from the “Woolsey Fire,” north of Los Angeles.
Body recovery teams with sniffer dogs are now carrying out a gut-wrenching search for victims with hundreds of people still unaccounted for.
Australian actor Liam Hemsworth was among those to lose his home.
He shared an image on Instagram saying “It’s been a heartbreaking few days. This is what’s left of my house. Love”.
“Many people in Malibu and surrounding areas in California have lost their homes also and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected by these fires.”
Australian actor Liam Hemsworth
“Many people in Malibu and surrounding areas in California have lost their homes also and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected by these fires, he said.
“I spent the day in Malibu yesterday and it was amazing to see the community pulling together to help each other out in any way they can. Malibu is a strong community and this event is only going to make it stronger.”
Image: AFP
California Governor Jerry Brown blames climate change for the unprecidented disaster saying “This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal,”
“And this new abnormal will continue, certainly in the next 10 to 15 to 20 years,” he said.
- READ: Massive wildfire sparks evacuation orders across the state
- READ: Is that fire falling down a cliff in The Golden State?