Fires threaten thousands of homes in California
Carlsbad, California (CNN) - In her 42 years of living in Southern California, Sophie Payne of Carlsbad has "never, never, never" witnessed so many wildfires at one time.
Three dozen raged overnight. Eight of them continued to burn Thursday in a patchwork across of San Diego County, ravaging 10,000 acres since Tuesday. Payne's hilltop house was an exhibit of their destruction: It was burned to the ground, except for a stone archway and several walls.
"This is my dream house, and what can I say," she said, looking at the destruction to the three-bedroom, four-bathroom house. "Now it's all gone."
Payne found some family keepsakes in a small safe, and while intact, the papers were charred at the edges. "It's just falling apart," Payne said.
Gay Walker was evacuated from her home in nearby Encinitas and doubted she would even be allowed to return by Friday. Police told her to evacuate immediately.
"It was an orderly evacuation, but it was reminiscent of something apocalyptic," Walker said.
View my Flipboard Magazine.California wildfire becomes the largest in Nevada Range history
The massive wildfire threatening Yosemite National Park continues to burn out of control.
It is now the largest wildfire in the history of the Nevada range. As many as 20 helicopters and air tankers are on hand, aiding the efforts of 3,800 firefighters.
The blaze is now only 20% contained.
Casey Wian is on the ground, as close as he can safely get to the flames with the latest.
Firefighters for hire: Homeowners hire private fire crews
Colorado's Black Forest fire is the most destructive forest fire in the state's history.
In a fire that has so far claimed more than 400 structures and two lives, some homeowners have an extra layer of protection: private firefighters called in to save certain houses, but not the entire community.
Martin Savidge reports for OutFront.
